Netizens protest US-EU trade partnership with #KickOutTTIP
Activists demand transparency in transatlantic trade negotiations.
Activists are taking to the streets and to social media to protest the latest negotiations on what could become the largest trade deal in history.
The sixth round of closed-door talks between the US and EU on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are taking place this week in Brussels. TTIP, if agreed on, would reduce tariffs and harmonise US-EU regulations on goods and services. Proponents argue this would increase the number of jobs throughout the region and boost the US and EU economies. Opponents, however, say the potential deal poses a threat to public services, food and environmental regulations, privacy and democracy.
Using #KickOutTTIP, #NoTTIP and #StopTTIP, many online are calling for an end to the agreement, saying it only represents the interests of multinational corporations at the expense of ordinary citizens: