In Forbes yesterday, Tim Worstall makes an excellent point about the disingenuous attacks of Greenpeace and other fringe groups against the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions under discussion in the TTIP negotiations.

For too long, TTIP has been subject to outrageous whoppers and apocalyptic fantasies by self-interested activists bent on profiting from the false images of free trade they create from whole cloth that don’t resemble reality. The daily drum beat of fear generated by these groups is amplified by Russian propaganda organs (RT, Sputnik) and aimed at western audiences, the goal of which is to weaken the Atlantic Alliance. While their motivations may differ, their common cause make them defacto allies. It is past time for transatlantic business, political, and media leaders to push back against the many false narratives that are perpetuated by these groups and their Moscow-backed cheerleaders.

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Junker also made this point, as reported in the Daily Mail (UK). More European and US leaders need to strongly and repeatedly reinforce this important perspective.

Gardner Peckham

Gardner manages Prime Policy Group's international practice. He has 30 years of experience in the design and implementation of federal policy on foreign relations, national security and international trade. Gardner co-leads our practice which services clients on issues related to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations.