PM vows to nail trade deal ‘myths’

Mr Cameron said there was an “enormous economic prize” to be gained on both sides of the Atlantic in jobs, investment and lower prices if negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are brought to a successful conclusion.

He believes the biggest international free trade deal in history could be worth £10bn to the UK economy alone. But he said supporters of the partnership must be ready to tackle head-on the mounting tide of warnings from critics that TTIP represents a threat to public services and consumer protection in Europe by creating legal requirements to open markets up to US firms.

Unions have warned that TTIP will allow US healthcare groups to use the law to force further privatisation of NHS services, while campaigners have raised concerns that it will undermine food safety standards and environmental protections in the EU.

Speaking to a group of business leaders in New York, Mr Cameron said the business community needs to make the case for TTIP.