The Trans-Pacific Partnership: "A pig in a poke " that may be "a Cat in the Bag"
by Joe Hueglin
The focus of Canadians has been of Senators misdeeds though the 19th round of Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations will be held August 22nd.These negotiations are far reaching. "The Trans-Pacific Partnership would give corporations the right to sue national governments if they passed any law, regulation, or court ruling interfering with a corporation’s “expected future profits.” They could also sue over local or state laws they didn’t like.
The TPP would cover 40 percent of the world’s economy Existing laws and regulations on food safety, environmental protection, drug prices, local contracting, and internet freedom would all be up for challenge. And the decision-makers on such suits would not be local judges and juries; they’d be affiliated with the World Bank, an institution dedicated to corporate interests. As well "TPP would give international firms equal access to federal government contracts.TPP would include aggressive intellectual property rules to protect Big Pharma’s patents and restrict access to generic medicines."
http://www.labornotes.org/2013/07/secret-tpp-deal-would-void-democracy#sthash.Ttoetp0R.dpuf
Concerns are being expressed concerning the nature of negotiations and expectations stated regarding actions being demanded of national government:
In Japan, "The TPP talks are unusual in that participating countries are obliged to maintain strict confidentiality concerning the content of negotiations.In view of the nature of the TPP talks, it will be extremely important that the government refrain from deciding whether it will sign the TPP accord before letting the public know about key points of the agreement.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2013/08/15/commentary/shedding-light-on-the-tpps-impact/#.Ug0zHZKTiT4:
In Malaysia;
“The Prime Minister and Cabinet directed negotiators to continue ensuring that Malaysia’s sovereignty is defended in the course of the TPPA negotiations. “They are unanimous over reinforcing Malaysia’s position that we will only agree to the TPPA on terms that are most favourable to the country,” Miti said. The Cabinet has also agreed to two more Cost Benefit Analyses (CBAs).It will focus on the interest of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Bumiputera business community as well as a comprehensive analysis on national interests. http://www.themalaymailonline.com/money/article/cabinet-malaysia-not-bound-by-fixed-timeline-on-tppa ;
In the United States;
"The TPP suffers from a lack of transparency, public participation, and democratic accountability. "http://www.dailypaul.com/295641/trans-pacific-partnership-sign-the-petition-to-oppose
While in other countries governments are under pressure and as a result are making commitments Canadians are being asked to trust the words Minister Fast.with no reference being made to any other aspects than the positives he states. “An ambitious TPP agreement will open markets and create jobs for Canadians in every region of our country.”
http://www.international.gc.ca/media/comm/news-communiques/2013/07/25a.aspx
One Journalist has expressed what is occurring in Canada "What we don’t know yet is whether Canada has bought a cat in a bag. It may be an historic leap but is it a leap into the dark?"
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/06/19/john-ivison-stephen-harpers-push-to-join-pacific-trade-deal-may-be-a-leap-into-the-dark/
As of now the answer is "Yes, for all save the 600 Corporate advisers helping to frame the Agreement, http://www.care2.com/news/member/901507364 /3626076 we are in the process of accepting the government selling us a pig in a poke, which may well turn out to be a cat in the bag.developing.
Hopefully when Minister Fast reports on his participation in the August 22nd Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations attention on Senators' misdeeds will have cooled enough questions may be asked of him.
Joe Hueglin
Member 29th Parliament
5838 Mouland Avenue
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Home 905-356-39001
Mobile 905 328 0797
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Cabinet: Malaysia not bound by fixed timeline on TPPA
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/money/article/cabinet-malaysia-not-bound-by-fixed-timeline-on-tppa
“The Prime Minister and Cabinet directed negotiators to continue ensuring that Malaysia’s sovereignty is defended in the course of the TPPA negotiations.
“They are unanimous over reinforcing Malaysia’s position that we will only agree to the TPPA on terms that are most favourable to the country,” Miti said.
The Cabinet has also agreed to two more Cost Benefit Analyses (CBAs).
It will focus on the interest of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Bumiputera business community as well as a comprehensive analysis on national interests.
New global trade agreement would threaten US democracy
http://couriernews.suntimes.com/opinions/letters/21939492-474/new-global-trade-agreement-would-threaten-us-democracy.html
From leaks about the text, we have learned that the treaty will empower multinational corporations to sue national governments, including the U.S. government, to overturn any legislation that interferes with the corporation’s “expected profits.” So if we pass a law that requires our state to “buy American” or a law that regulates emissions of greenhouse gas or protects water supplies, or a law that protects workers’ rights or consumer health, a corporation based in Korea or Australia could sue to collect damages.
Even today’s inadequate minimum wages laws could be challenged as interfering with “expected profits.” Who will have the power to overturn such laws? A panel of corporate lawyers! If signed into law, TPP will require that all countries signing on change their laws to cut our protections in order to maximize those corporate profits.
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The government gathers up our every communication, but we aren’t allowed to see what it’s doing in our name. We don’t influence the text and we don’t get to see it.
Shedding light on the TPP’s impact AUG 15, 2013
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2013/08/15/commentary/shedding-light-on-the-tpps-impact/#.Ug0zHZKTiT4
The TPP talks are unusual in that participating countries are obliged to maintain strict confidentiality concerning the content of negotiations.
In view of the nature of the TPP talks, it will be extremely important that the government refrain from deciding whether it will sign the TPP accord before letting the public know about key points of the agreement.
21 fields covered by the TPP, including market access, intellectual property, government procurement, environment-related measures and labor rules,
Canada and the Trans-Pacific Partnership
http://cafta.org/pages/free-trade-agreements/cananda-and-the-trans-pacific-partnership/
(Canadian Agri-food Trade Alliance (CAFTA)CAFTA believes that to achieve its objectives, the TPP must eliminate tariffs and quantitative import restrictions on all goods. The agreement must also include new and sustainable approaches to deal with today’s critical trade issues, including non-tariff barriers, sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, rules of origin, customs administration and other measures that can be critical to ensuring that market access commitments are real.
Trans-Pacific Partnership: Canada Urged To Reject Drug Patent Proposal As Bad For Poor Countries
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/07/16/tpp-canada-drug-patents-msf_n_3606194.html
The TPP is being negotiated without opportunity for meaningful public input," it reads.
It says that the proposal "will roll back public health safeguards and flexibilities enshrined in international law, and put in place far-reaching monopoly protections that will restrict generic competition and keep medicine prices unaffordable."
TPP talks set four-stage tariff deadline
http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/02/business/tpp-talks-set-four-stage-tariff-deadline/#.Ug00VZKTiT4
The Diet members were told that Japan has joined in time for negotiations on market access and other fields the country is keen to discuss.
They were also informed that the talks involve a strict nondisclosure agreement prohibiting members from releasing information for four years after the conclusion of a deal.
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