This week, EU and US negotiators are meeting in Brussels for the 8th round of negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The official negotiations are supported by a number of fringe events during the week.

eBay supports efforts to remove restrictions for technology-enabled transatlantic trade and therefore actively participates in stakeholder activities throughout the week.

So far, trade agreements have focused on the type of exporting and importing carried out by large corporations – not surprisingly as international trade has primarily been the privilege of these few firms, to the exclusion of consumers, small business owners and entrepreneurs. However, the Internet and digital services are changing the face of trade by empowering small businesses to directly serve customers anywhere in the world and thereby build international operations on their own terms without necessarily relying on access to global value chains. It is high time for trade agreements to follow suit. Here, the TTIP negotiations present the perfect opportunity for crafting the very first trade agreement that speaks to citizens because it addresses the issues that consumers, small business owners and entrepreneurs feel when they engage in international trade.

Hanne Melin, eBay Inc,’s Director Global Public Policy and Head of Public Policy Lab EMEA, will speak at the European Commission’s stakeholders event on 4 February and present eBay’s policy proposals that would facilitate transatlantic trade for small businesses.

Hanne will also participate in a Digital & ICT-focused panel at the ForumEurope 2nd Annual EU-US Trade Conference on 5 February.

Read our views on how TTIP could make life easier for small businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.