Barcelos’ city council and Portuguese company Gestão, Tecnologia e Inovação S. A. (GTI) organized a seminar called “The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – Impact on the textile, clothing and shoe sectors.” U. S. Ambassador Robert Sherman and Francisca Lucena e Vale from the Foreign Trade and Investment Agency (AICEP) were also present at this event in Barcelos, which aimed to explore how the U.S. market should be approached and to discuss the benefits of TTIP. Entrepreneurs and government officials believe that these sectors would benefit the most with TTIP, as some customs restrictions would be lifted.
Ambassador Robert Sherman noted that the Obama Administration hopes to close this deal before the President’s term in office comes to an end in 2016. The Ambassador also stated that this is “a fantastic opportunity for companies to grow and expand” and that he is determined “to opening Portugal to Americans” as “the time has come for Americans to discover Portugal and (…) to have access to Portuguese products.” He recognizes that SMEs interested in expanding encounter barriers with customs and regulatory demands in the U.S., a market with 320 million consumers. In this respect, Portugal would benefit greatly from TTIP, which should add €20mn to the GDP and create over 40,000 new jobs.
- Images of the Ambassador’s visit to Barcelos.
