Obama using Germany visit to win support for TTIP
US President Barack Obama has arrived in Germany to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel as he tries to build momentum for a controversial trade deal between the United States and the European Union.
Air Force One landed at Hannover Langenhagen Airport in the capital of the German state of Lower Saxony on Sunday.
Obama joined Merkel at the Hannover Messe, the world's largest industrial technology trade fair, to promote the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which he hopes to finalize before he leaves office in January.
Supporters of the proposed pact say it will make it easier for companies on both sides of the Atlantic to do business and will give a boost to the global economy at a time of economic uncertainty.
However, there is strong opposition to TTIP, particularly in Germany, with critics arguing it will take away many consumer and environmental protections.
Obama said he was determined to conclude the TTIP negotiations despite congressional threats to block the deal.
“But if we have that deal, then the next president can pick that up rapidly and get that done,” he told the BBC in an interview broadcast Sunday.
Thousands of people took to the streets in Hannover on Saturday, the day before Obama arrived. Some carried placards that said “Yes We Can — Stop TTIP!”
Obama will discuss other issues with Merkel, including efforts to counter the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group, improve cooperation on counter-terrorism, and encourage countries to share law enforcement information.
The US president will publicly praise Merkel’s “courageous” handling of the migrant crisis by allowing the resettlement in Germany of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing violence in Syria and other areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa.
Obama’s trip to Germany comes fresh from a weekend round of gold with British Prime Minister David Cameron and meetings with members of the royal family.
During that visit, the US president called on Britons to vote to stay in the EU as the country is preparing for a referendum on whether to leave the twenty eight-member bloc.
Biden signs war aid bill supplying Israel, Ukraine with more weapons
US Senate passes multibillion-dollar aid package for Israel amid Gaza war
NYPD arrests multitude of pro-Palestine students at NYU campus
‘Say no to Biden’: US college being pressed not to endorse genocide
VIDEO | UN: Alarming food insecurity crisis grips Afghanistan
VIDEO | Stuck in quagmire
UK suspends legal assessments of Israeli violations in Gaza
Students protest at US universities to urge end in financial ties to Israel
Biden signs war aid bill supplying Israel, Ukraine with more weapons
VIDEO | France, West warn Israel against escalation with Iran
Iran refutes Kuwait’s assertion of exclusive rights to Arash gas field
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
