Sunday, October 06, 2013

Publicizing TPP


Gee, someone is trying to publicize the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). This sign was put up on the building housing the U.S. Trade Representative, whose major mission seems to be getting the TPP approved, but not necessarily informing the nation just how bad this partnership can be.  Over the past year or so I've written a few posts about the TPP.  Here are some excerpts.
  • Mr. Bloomberg feels that, at least as regards tobacco the "deal that sells out our national commitment to public health, and forfeits our sovereign authority over our tobacco laws, does not merit the support of Mr. Obama; of the Senate, which would have to ratify it; or of the American people."
  • In the words of United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk the TPP  “will create binding policies on future Congresses in numerous areas,” including “those related to labor, patent and copyright, land use, food, agriculture and product standards, natural resources, the environment, professional licensing, state-owned enterprises and government procurement policies, as well as financial, healthcare, energy, telecommunications and other service sector regulations.”  
  • I recently found out that the treaty could also make us sick in that food, such as seafood, will also be subject to the rules of the treaty.  As such, we will have to abide by the lowest standards of all participating countries.  If we don't, we can be sued for the loss of anticipated future profits.
  • Foreign corporations operating in the United States would no longer be subject to our laws regarding protections for the environment, finance or labor rights.  If we try to make the companies comply, they can appeal to an international tribunal made up of lawyers specializing in corporate law.  
  • While it has been billed as a trade agreement, only two of its 26 chapters actually have anything to do with trade. 

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