The reasons for the last minute delay were allegedly the many amendments to the proposal that meant MEPs needed more time to consider the deal, which opponents say will only benefit big corporations rather than citizens.
Breaking news: Vote on #TTIP in @Europarl_DE resolution is postponed. Our pressure is working but we´re still on alert!
— Stop TTIP (@eci_ttip) June 9, 2015
Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now has says the delay shows just how controversial and toxic the TTIP deal is.
"The TTIP vote being postponed as a result of the large number of amendments reflects just how controversial and contested this toxic trade deal has become.
"MEPs know that the people of Europe do not want the introduction of secret corporate courts and do want to protect vital public services as well as environmental and labor restrictions."
According to a tweet by the European Parliament's press office, the TTIP vote "has been postponed due to many amendments and requests for split or separate votes (according to Rule 175)."
Meanwhile, the campaign group Stop TTIP has reached a record number of signatures with two million signing up to stop the deal. According to Global Justice Now, "this is the largest European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) since the introduction of the instrument in 2012, even though the EU Commission has tried to block it."
.@Plaid_Cymru @TTIPBeware #TTIP vote postponed by the President at the last minute. But this gives us more time to campaign and to end #TTIP
— Jill Evans ASE/MEP (@JillEvansMEP) June 9, 2015
Speaking ahead of the vote, senior figures in the European Parliament warned that they would block a secretive trade pact unless the deal guarantees states' rights to regulate over climate, health and social laws.
The warning comes after WikiLeaks published secret documents detailing negotiations on the global Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), involving the US, the EU and 23 other countries. All the BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are absent from the negotiations.
