Passage of the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), a free trade agreement between the United States and the European Union, would stimulate economic growth and create jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. The agreement has been criticized over the past several months by anti-trade groups, especially over investor protections such as investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS).

To counter this negative messaging, Shaun Donnelly, USCIB’s vice president for investment and financial services, has been traveling around Europe as an American speaker for TTIP on behalf of U.S. embassies, spreading the word about the benefits of a strong, comprehensive, high-standard TTIP for both the United States and the European Union.

Last week, Donnelly visited Austria and Slovenia and participated in speaking engagements, meetings and interviews with government officials, business leaders, journalists and student groups. Anti-TTIP groups refused to speak with Donnelly.

“Austria and Slovenia are among the more ýTTIP-skeptical of EU member states and anti-ISDS fever runs high,” said Donnelly. “Our U.S. embassies in each capital are working hard to get our side of the story out and I was glad to lend a hand with some key audiences.”

USCIB is working with its member companies to mobilize support for TTIP in Europe and is seeking opportunities to promote and explain the business case for TTIP.