Hillary Clinton has been very strongly supportive of passage of these intensively neoliberal, corporatocratic, U.S.-job-killing trade agreements since day one. More importantly, as Secretary of State in the Obama administration, she was at the forefront of the administration’s efforts to shove these brutal agreements down the world’s collective throat.
UPDATE (1:00AM EDT, 6/16/15): (h/t to Kossack Don Midwest) Citing two instances which I've cited in this post, CNN's Jake Tapper published this, "45 times Secretary Clinton pushed the trade bill she now opposes," earlier Monday evening over at CNN's website. (END OF UPDATE.)
I suppose, in the world of political spin, we're all supposed to ignore this, right?
Make no mistake about it, these trade agreements were even more egregious—many “negotiation rounds” earlier—a couple of years ago than the travesties that they STILL are, right now.
If you’d listen to some folks in the Democratic blogosphere, and even right here at Daily Kos, where loyal stenographers of the status quo quote Hillary’s speeches and press releases verbatim from the MSM, we’re all to believe that she’s one of the world’s first successful recipients of a brain transplant? I don’t think so.
Hillary Clinton’s positions on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and these other “Free Trade” agreements (the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership [TTIP] and the Trade In Services Annex [TISA] to the General Agreement on Trade In Services [GATS]) are little changed from where they were, 24-30 months ago, and where they still are, to this day…
The Trans-Pacific Partnership:
Free Trade At What Costs?
Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA)
August 20, 2012 · by COHA
…In November 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Washington’s official pivot to Asia. Outlining a vision for an Asia-Pacific Century, Secretary Clinton described a desired symbiotic and unfettered relationship between the two regions that will provide “unprecedented opportunities for investment, trade, and access to cutting-edge technology.”[1] Washington hopes this engagement will help in “strengthening bilateral security alliances, deepening working relationships with emerging powers, engaging with relational multilateral institutions, expanding trade and investment, forging a broad-based military presence, and advancing democracy and human rights.” With the TPP as a first step, the ultimate goal is to “build a web of partnerships and institutions across the Pacific that is durable and consistent with American interests and values.”…
…
…At the center of this pivot has been the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), an enigmatic trade pact that has been hailed as a true “21st century agreement.”[2] In negotiation since 2008, the TPP would link the United States with Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam (the TPP-9) across a variety of economic platforms. Mexico, Canada, and Japan are all looking to join the agreement (the TPP-12), which would make the TPP the largest trade bloc in the world, encompassing some 700 million people and about $26 trillion USD in various forms of economic activity.
But, for the most part, the member countries have conducted negotiations for the TTP under the mantle of utmost secrecy. The true scope of the agreement has only become apparent due to a few leaked texts and sporadic reports from the signatory countries. Evidently, trade is only the beginning of the TPP’s jurisdiction as it also contains chapters on customs, cross-border services, telecommunications, government procurement, competition policy, cooperation and capacity building, investment, financial services, environmental regulations, and intellectual property rights.[3]…
[1] Clinton, Hillary. “America’s Pacific Century.” Foreign Policy (November 2011).
[2] “The Trans-Pacific Partnership Leaders Statement.” The Office of the United States Trade Representative. November 12, 2011. http://www.ustr.gov/....
[3] “Important Progress Made at TPP Talks in San Diego.” The Office of the United States Trade Representative. July 10, 2012. http://www.ustr.gov/...
Remarks at Techport Australia
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Adelaide, South Australia
November 15, 2012
…we need to keep upping our game both bilaterally and with partners across the region through agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP. Australia is a critical partner. This TPP sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field. And when negotiated, this agreement will cover 40 percent of the world's total trade and build in strong protections for workers and the environment.
That's key, because we know from experience, and of course research proves it, that respecting workers' rights leads to positive long-term economic outcomes, better jobs with higher wages and safer working conditions. And including everybody in that, those who have been previously left out of the formal economy will help build a strong middle class, not only here in Australia or in our country, but across Asia. And that will be good for us…
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