Why does Vladimir Putin Hate the TTIP when it does not involve Russia?
It's not hard to figure out why: it would more tightly bind Europe to the United States, thus hurting Russian leverage. The TTIP is a sensible agreement on economic grounds, broadly speaking. But it also holds enormous real value in the geopolitical sphere. The increased linkages between the United States and our European allies and partners will stand in direct opposition to Putin's key strategy of driving a wedge between the United States and the EU as the central members of the transatlantic community.
Naturally, there are challenges. There is nervousness on both sides of the Atlantic about various elements of the potential agreement -- in particular, worries from Europe about the competitiveness of the continent's agriculture sector; the impact on energy production and the rise of fracking; protection of intellectual property; and the level of protection afforded to cultural assets. All of these outstanding areas of concern have received considerable attention from the negotiators, and that there is guarded optimism they will be resolved according to conversations with senior negotiators.
There will also be obstacles to ratification. In Europe, the European Parliament will need to approve it, and there are questions being raised about the need for national parliaments to be involved. In the United States, the Senate will have to ratify the treaty. And we would still need to address the status of Canada and Mexico who currently enjoy a free trade zone via the North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States, and presumably would be interested in TTIP inclusion. Likewise, in Europe: four nations outside of the EU would likewise be interested (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and tiny Liechtenstein).
So how does all this affect the geopolitics of the region -- especially Russia's fraught relationship with the United States, NATO, and the EU? In addition to the economic benefits that would flow to both sides, there is clear geopolitical value. An economically energized Atlantic community with a shared free trade zone is far more likely to stand firm against Russian pressures (with natural gas closures, for example) designed to break up transatlantic solidarity. A European economy that enjoys a bounce from the benefits of free trade creates a stronger military partner for the United States, and provides more resources for defense spending. The agreement could help improve the Atlantic community's ability to share energy resources like liquefied natural gas through free trade.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/11/19/vladimir_putin_hates_the_ttip_europe_united_states_free_trade
Russia and China have been drawing closer together and represent an economic area (at least population-wise) that exceed that of North America and Europe. And any change in the trading rules between the US and Europe does not affect Russia's trade with either in the sense that those trading rules will not change.
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There's a lot moving around the chess board. I don't think these major agreements can be discussed individually.
Another ETA - Making myself clearer - between the two TTP and TTIP - I think there is a lot of 'drawing of lines' going on. And questions about - Whose side are you on? And who will stand with.
