TTIP

Thursday: Flood Congress To Stop Fast Track For TPP

March 16, 2015 Mackenzie McDonald Wilkins, www.PopularResistance.org Resist! fast track, TAFTA, TPP, TTIP

Across the country people are rising up against corporate free trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnerhsip (TTIP). Through continuous organizing and creative action we have shown that we have the power to stop the world's largest corporations, to end their assault on our communities, workplaces, democracy, and environment. But we still have a big fight on our hands, the fight of a lifetime, and no one will lead this battle but us. Join us next week as we "Flood Congress" to express our collective disillusionment with the corporate "free trade" agenda. We will gather next Thursday, March 19, at 11:30 AM in the downstairs food court in Union Station (Washington D.C.) for lunch and training before we head to Congress. Please RSVP to mackenzie@popularresistance.org so that we can keep in touch with you if details change.

The United States Of TTIP: Big Business Constitution For Europe

March 13, 2015 Nick Dearden, www.commondreams.org Educate! Corporatism, Democracy, Europe, Free Trade, TTIP

The US-EU trade agreement, known as TTIP, is not just another free trade deal. It is a charter for big business, forcing lawmakers to uphold the so-called ‘rights’ of investors above every other consideration – human rights, environmental protection, democratic accountability. It is a constitution for the free movement of capital. Leaked documents from the European Commission reveal that TTIP will be a ‘living agreement,’ continuing to influence laws even after it has been signed. If something doesn’t make the final cut, business lobbyists needn’t fear, because the Commission is working to enshrine a greater role for them in the process of creating (or halting) regulation. "The central purpose of TTIP is to align regulations on both sides of the Atlantic – whether chemical regulations, food production standards or environmental requirements."

Stop The Fast Track To A Future Of Global Corporate Rule

March 12, 2015 Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers, www.PopularResistance.org Educate! Corporatism, fast track, TAFTA, TPP, TTIP

Several major international agreements are under negotiation which would greatly empower multinational corporations and the World Economic Forum is promoting a new model of global governance that creates a hybrid government-corporate structure. Humankind is proceeding on a path to global corporate rule where transnational corporations would not just influence public policy, they would write the policies and vote on them. The power of nation-states and people to determine their futures would be weakened in a system of corporate rule. The Obama administration has been negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) over the past five years, is currently pushing Congress to pass trade promotion authority (known as fast track) which would allow him to sign these agreements before they go to Congress. Then Congress would have a limited time to read thousands of pages of technical legal language, debate the contents and be banned from making amendments.

TTIP: Transatlantic Trade Deal Text Leaked To BBC

March 2, 2015 Glenn Campbell, www.bbc.com Educate! Europe, Free Trade, TTIP

The document describes itself as the EU's "initial offer" in negotiations over the transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP). It includes the wording that UK ministers have said will protect the NHS from privatisation. Anti-TTIP campaigners say a specific exemption for the NHS is still needed. The 103-page document is headed "trade in services and investment: schedule of specific commitments and reservations". On health, the document states: "The EU reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure with regard to the provision of all health services which receive public funding or State support in any form". The wording is the same as that used in a similar free trade agreement between the EU and Canada (CETA). The UK trade minister, Lord Livingston, said last week that this text ensured "publicly funded health services are excluded".

Why US Food Is More Dangerous Than Food In Europe

March 1, 2015 Alison Rose Levy, www.alternet.org Educate! Foods, Free Trade, Precautionary principle, TAFTA, TPP, TTIP

A speaker at an event I recently attended asked why U.S. food companies put butylated hydroxyltoluene, a food preservative and endocrine disruptor, in cereal sold stateside, while in Europe the same companies formulate the same product without BHT. There are three answers to that question: The European Union prohibits numerous harmful ingredients U.S. regulatory agencies allow. Well-informed European citizens have organized and pushed for those regulations. U.S. citizens have not yet pushed for such regulations in sufficient numbers. The precautionary principle is an approach to risk management which places the burden of proof to demonstrate a product or ingredient's safety on the corporations that produces the product— prior to releasing it to the public. Over the last few decades, the U.S. has become lax with this approach while Europe proceeds with a greater amount of caution. But that contrast may not survive efforts by the U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and multinational corporations, which are currently negotiating super trade treaties behind closed doors.

Top Democrat Denied Access To Trade Deals

February 14, 2015 Dana Liebelson, www.huffingtonpost.com Resist! fast track, Free Trade Agreements, TAFTA, TPP, Trade, TTIP

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, wants to view an unredacted copy of the proposed text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership(TTIP). He wants to bring his chief of staff, who has a top security clearance, and he wants to be able to take notes privately. He also wants to review documents that show the position of each country participating in the agreements, as well how the U.S. position has changed over the course of the negotiations. In a letter this week, Doggett accused Michael Froman, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), of avoiding his requests since January. "USTR has provided no legal justification for denying such Member and staff review," wrote Doggett. The text of TPP is treated as a state secret -- to a degree. Access to TPP texts is limited to members of Congress and staffers on the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee who have an official security clearance. Hundreds of corporate lobbyists and executives are also given access . . .

TTIP Negotiations Give Corporations Power Over Legislation

February 14, 2015 Failed Evolution, www.failedevolution.blogspot.gr Educate! Corporatism, Europe, Greece, Politics, TTIP, usa

Since December 2013, NGOs, social movements, and politicians have harshly criticised the European Commission's (EC) proposal on 'regulatory co-operation' 1in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). They argue that a position paper, leaked back then, suggested the Commission was opening the door to massive influence by big business over future laws. Now, a leaked document shows the Commission is maintaining its course – nothing suggests it is taking civil society concerns into account. In a previous document from December 2014, the EC goes even further, suggesting limiting the policy space of municipalities and local authorities – though this idea is under fire and might not be part of the EU position, it is a sign that regulatory co-operation could prove to be not only very comprehensive, but outright dangerous to democracy.

Newsletter: We Will Not Back Down

February 7, 2015 Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeese, www.popularresistance.org Newsletter Climate Change, Criminal Justice and Prisons, FERC, Police abuse, Surveillance, TPP, TTIP

This week we focus on the grim reality that government agencies and corporations work together to exploit people and planet and suppress dissent. This knowledge can be overwhelming at times to those who are striving for a more peaceful and just world, especially for those who are labeled as ‘terrorists’ by the ones who are violent. In this work, our hearts are fortified by the love demonstrated in activist communities, by the growing number of communities who are standing up to the security state and corporate domination and by the tangible victories occurring each week. When you see the power structure stiffen its back and get abusive, remember that is because we are building power – and they fear the people having power. This is the time to escalate and show them that we will not back down.

Europeans Protest Trade Talks In Brussels

February 6, 2015 Andrea Germanos, www.commondreams.org Resist! Europe, Free Trade Agreement, TTIP, usa

Hundreds of people rallied in Brussels on Wednesday, where negotiators are holding their latest round of talks on a proposed EU-U.S. trade deal criticized as a "Trojan treaty" that threatens democracy and puts corporate profits above people. At issue is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which would be the biggest-ever trade deal, and is a proposal that has faced years of opposition over its secrecy as well as possible impacts on issues ranging from food safety to fracking to copyright. Friends of the Earth Europe brought their touring "Trojan horse" to Brussels to urge negotiators to say not to what the environmental group says is a Trojan treaty.

Leaks Show TAFTA Will Undermine Sovereignty & Democracy

February 4, 2015 Glyn Moody, www.techdirt.com Educate! Europe, TTIP, US

It has long been evident that TAFTA/TTIP is not a traditional trade agreement -- that is, one that seeks to promote trade by removing discriminatory local tariffs on imported goods and services. That's simply because the tariffs between the US and EU are already very low -- under 3% on average. Removing all those will produce very little change in trading patterns. The original justification for TTIP recognized this, and called for "non-tariff barriers" to be removed as well. Those "non-tariff barriers" include regulations and standards introduced to protect the public -- for example, through health and safety laws or environmental regulations. Removing those "barriers" in order to increase trade might be great for companies, but increases the social costs through weakened protection for the environment, or greater health risks.

Syriza Official Vows To Kill TAFTA: ‘Gift To European People’

February 3, 2015 Andrea Germanos, www.commondreams.org Resist! Europe, Free Trade Agreements, Greece, TTIP

An official with Greece's newly elected Syriza party may have sounded the death knell for a proposed EU-U.S. trade deal that has faced a mountain of opposition from civil society. The deal is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), now facing itseighth round of talks between negotiators this week in Brussels. The TTIP, which would be the biggest trade deal ever, has been criticized as a corporate-friendly deal that threatens food and environmental safety under the guise of "harmonization" of regulations. Georgios Katrougkalos, now deputy minister for administrative reform, confirmed what he had told EurActiv Greece ahead of his Syriza party's victory last week: that his parliament would not ratify the trade deal.

Mobilized & Winning, Now It’s Time to Escalate

January 30, 2015 Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers, www.PopularResistance.org Organize! fast track, Free Trade Agreements, TAFTA, TPP, Trade, TTIP

Since the President’s State of the Union message where he announced his plan to push corporate trade agreements and seek Fast Track trade promotion authority, the movement against Fast Track, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and globalized trade has grown. Instead of the bump in support that Obama expected after the State of the Union, opposition has increased inside Congress and in the grass roots. This week Senator Grassley saidthat currently they don’t have 60 votes in support of Fast Track and therefore it could not pass a filibuster. If Wyden demands that Congress sees the text of the TPP and has true involvement in the negotiations before they are finalized, then he and Hatch will not reach agreement and the Republicans will have to go it alone. In the House there are even more challenges for Fast Track. Chuck Porcari of the Communication Workers (CWA) writes: “House Speaker John Boehner has said that the White House needs to deliver at least 50 House Democrats if Fast Track has any hopes of passing, especially now that the White House is trying to whip together 80 Democrats in the House and New Democrat Coalition is trying to cobble together at most 40 votes. . . . According to a story by Inside U.S. Trade, ‘one informed source questioned whether the New Democrats actually have an idea of which lawmakers will provide the 40 ‘yes’ votes they are seeking.’”

Activists Demand Ron Wyden Oppose Fast Tracking TPP

January 23, 2015 Staff, www.PopularResistance.org Resist! Corporatism, fast track, TPP, TTIP

Activists working in coordination with digital rights group Fight for the Future briefly disrupted a town hall meeting hosted by Oregon Senator Ron Wyden when they unfurled a banner behind the Senator reading, “Senator Wyden: Don’t Betray the Internet! No Fast Track for the TPP!” The activists are joining tens of thousands of voices who have called upon Senator Wyden to oppose outdated and undemocratic “Fast Track” legislation, also known as “Trade Promotion Authority,” as well as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a massive, secretive trade deal that has been condemned by advocacy organizations from across the political spectrum.

Fast Track Not A Done Deal, The People Will Stop It

January 18, 2015 Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers, www.PopularResistance.org Resist! Climate Change, Corporatism, Crony capitalism, Extreme Energy, fast track, Internet, Living Wage, TAFTA, TPP, TTIP, Wages, Worker Rights and Jobs

The corporate media is reporting that since the Republican leadership and President Obama support Fast Track trade authority, it is a done deal. And that message, also heard by countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), is driving the race to finalize that agreement. The truth is: Fast Track is not a done deal. There is bi-partisan opposition in Congress and a large movement of movements organized to stop it. Members of both parties know that Obama will be out of office when the negative impacts of these trade agreements are felt. Congress will be alone facing an angry electorate while Obama is raising money for his post-presidential career from the transnational corporations who get rich off these agreements at the expense of everyone else. Members of both parties know that Obama will be out of office when the negative impacts of these trade agreements are felt. Congress will be alone facing an angry electorate while Obama is raising money for his post-presidential career from the transnational corporations who get rich off these agreements at the expense of everyone else.

Thousands Protest EU-US Trade Deal

December 21, 2014 Nikolaj Nielsen, www.euobserver.com Resist! Austerity, TAFTA, TTIP

BRUSSELS - Protestors gathered in front of an empty EU summit building on Friday (19 December) to demonstrate against the EU-US free trade pact talks. A planned two-day summit in Brussels ended early on Thursday evening with EU leaders pledging to have the deal, which is set to remove trade tariffs and harmonise standards with the US, signed by the end of 2015. But Sebastian Franco, one of the protest organisers at Alliance D-1920, a social movement opposed to the transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP), told this website their anti-free trade message had not been lost. “It is the first time the summit finished so early, I wouldn’t say it was just because of us, but it was also because of us,” he said.

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