US-EU TTIP deal and environmental standards

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/14/free-trade-deal-eu-us-environment-ngos-sustainability; "Both the EU and US are adamant TTIP will not affect both regions’ environmental protection standards. But green groups, forewarned by past experiences of free trade agreements, are incredulous.... Any attempt to fully align the two regions would precipitate a disaster for environmental standards, particularly in the EU where the bar tends to be higher. But the aim of the negotiations is not ‘harmonisation’, as some green groups have suggested. Rather the language is of ‘mutual recognition’ or ‘equivalence’. This decreases the danger of standards being directly eroded.... This debate is essentially pragmatic. It’s not really about deregulation and liberalism but about diverging priorities. Corporations are in favour of regulations that are in favour of corporations. Hence their support of the creation of additional legal frameworks that will allow them to enhance their economic interests through ISDSs. Environment groups want to use state frameworks to protect the environment...."