To: The United States House of Representatives
Shine the Light on TransPacific Partnership negotiations.
U.S. citizens DO NOT want the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) agreement to have Fast Track treatment when presented for a Vote. There must be opportunities for citizens to know about and understand the provisions in the TransPacific Partnership agreement. Citizens need to have adequate opportunities to comment on the provisions of the TPP
Why is this important?
TransPacific Partnership (TPP) is a super--sized NAFTA, TPP is a Free-trade agreement whereby countries give foreign corporations rights and privileges to encourage investment and global business.
The corporate powers granted in the TPP can override domestic laws on environmental health and safety, and labor and citizens' rights. Not only that, but multinationals can claim that those domestic laws hamper free trade and sue member countries for millions of dollars.
The current TPP talks include 12 Pacific Rim countries: Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chili, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and Japan. Other countries would be allowed to join the TPP at any time.
The TPP negotiations are being held in secret between unelected government officials and representatives from more than 600 of the world's most powerful corporations. The implications for labor and human rights are HUGH.
The talks are scheduled to finish by October of this year. Meanwhile, negotiators are lobbying Congress to grant "Fast Track" authority for the TPP. That would mean Congress couldn't revise the agreements and could only vote "yes" or "no" to the United States joining the TPP.
This is shaping up as a further takeover of public policy that would impact safe food, sustainable jobs, clean water and air, access to life-saving medicines, education, even our very democracy.
In March, Citizens Trade campaign organized a letter to Congress signed by 400 U.S. organizations outlining expectations for public involvement and calling for an end to Fast track. It was signed by, among others, the Sierra Club, Doctors Without Borders, Public Citizen, the National Family Farm Coalition, and state trade justice groups such as the Washington Fair Trade Coalition. American citizens would probably oppose the TPP if they knew more about it.
Move-On could join the efforts to let people know about the TPP. Visit TPPxBorder.org to find out how the TPP will impact you -- and then join the effort.
The corporate powers granted in the TPP can override domestic laws on environmental health and safety, and labor and citizens' rights. Not only that, but multinationals can claim that those domestic laws hamper free trade and sue member countries for millions of dollars.
The current TPP talks include 12 Pacific Rim countries: Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chili, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and Japan. Other countries would be allowed to join the TPP at any time.
The TPP negotiations are being held in secret between unelected government officials and representatives from more than 600 of the world's most powerful corporations. The implications for labor and human rights are HUGH.
The talks are scheduled to finish by October of this year. Meanwhile, negotiators are lobbying Congress to grant "Fast Track" authority for the TPP. That would mean Congress couldn't revise the agreements and could only vote "yes" or "no" to the United States joining the TPP.
This is shaping up as a further takeover of public policy that would impact safe food, sustainable jobs, clean water and air, access to life-saving medicines, education, even our very democracy.
In March, Citizens Trade campaign organized a letter to Congress signed by 400 U.S. organizations outlining expectations for public involvement and calling for an end to Fast track. It was signed by, among others, the Sierra Club, Doctors Without Borders, Public Citizen, the National Family Farm Coalition, and state trade justice groups such as the Washington Fair Trade Coalition. American citizens would probably oppose the TPP if they knew more about it.
Move-On could join the efforts to let people know about the TPP. Visit TPPxBorder.org to find out how the TPP will impact you -- and then join the effort.