This seems like the right place to reply overall - here are my reasons to oppose this, a priori:

1. Assurances like the above have been part of many recent treaty negotiations - in each case they have turned out to be false.

2. There is every reason to believe that the US will use influence with smaller EU states, esp. the more recently joined ones, to disrupt opposition in Europe to things it would like to see dismantled - REACH is an obvious target.

So while the "trade blocs" appear to be of equal power, the US has a significant tactical power advantage.

3) I won't repeat all of Jake's reasons, although they all seem worthy of consideration - but I'll add that there are specific provisions not only around "freeing up finance" but also "freeing up health care for US investment" and of course the ongoing issue of GM foods.

I guess what I'm saying is, as a European, with relatively good knowledge of the quality of the people involved on the negotiation on the European side, I can see no way this trade deal is in any way likely to benefit Europeans in total.

A final point for reference, this legislation could make my business life much easier, I wrestle regularly with the arcane US rules on imports. Still, I can still see how overall, it's unlikely to benefit me as a European...