United States Brussels, 4 October 2013

US Trade Representative Michael Froman telephoned me earlier today. He informed me that due to the on-going furlough, the US Administration will not be able to send to Brussels next week officials from USTR and US Government agencies to maintain the planned second round of negotiations in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). All negotiation sessions planned for next week (7-11 October 2013) in Brussels are therefore cancelled. The US side has promised to provide us with further information as soon as is feasible on when and how further occasions for engagement - including negotiation rounds - can be scheduled. Let me reiterate the clear commitment of both the EU and the US to the TTIP process. The cancellation of next week's negotiation round in Brussels is clearly unfortunate but let me underline that it in no way distracts us from our overall aim of achieving an ambitious trade and investment deal between Europe and the US which will bring real economic benefit to people on both sides of the Atlantic.

The TTIP-related press events announced for the upcoming week (photo opportunity on Monday 7 October 8.30hrs and press conference on Friday 11 October 15.30hrs) will be cancelled.