Selected findings from the study

This blog offers sections from my study to highlight some of the questions, topics and findings. I’ve edited the posts for the web, especially some of the footnotes and references, but all sources can be accessed in the full study.

The U.S. administration and the European Commission might argue that the process of including stakeholders in the TTIP negotiations is sufficient but some state actors disagree. Here is how the trade policy-making process could be improved.
The presentation for my oral defense gives an overview of the study’s flaws, some of which can be addressed by future research. Read about the criticism here.

Three connected factors explain U.S. states’ TTIP interest representation. Learn more about my findings on state variation on trade topics.

A handful of states have specialized commissions that study proposed trade deals and raise states’ concerns. Read about these trade policy commissions and their transatlantic efforts.

State legislatures have become much more professional over the past couple of decades, yet disparities among the states still remain. Check out the map showing different types of legislatures.

U.S. states have a peculiar advisory body through which they can relay opinions on trade policy to the federal government. Even supporters of this institution say it needs to be reformed. Read more about the reasons and reform options.

Public procurement has been a bone of contention between the EU and the U.S. pretty much since the TTIP negotiations started. Find out why.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau became the first head of state to address a gathering of U.S. governors, mostly to discuss the NAFTA reform. But what did states accomplish in the original negotiations? Take a look back.

State-level data on foreign direct investment (FDI) is hard to come by, but there are some statistics. See FDI stats in two maps here.

Lots of U.S. states have trade offices in the EU, but these are not involved in trade policy issues such as the TTIP. Learn more about their roles and tasks.

The negotiations for the TTIP aim to create a massive transatlantic trade area between two already strong and rich economic blocs. Explore how the talks came about and who leads them.

Imports from and exports to the EU are massive for almost every U.S. state. Two maps visualize the trade data.

The premise of my research is that U.S. states matter in international affairs. But what can they do in transatlantic trade matters and why do some states become engaged? The concept of multilayered interest representation offers a framework.

What’s the goal of the research? What methodology was used? The homepage provides a quick overview, including a short author bio. Read more.