I’m sure you’ve seen discussion of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) here but did you know that the TPP has several evil siblings? There are (at least) three that directly affect the USA have the good folks over at The Guardian up in arms: the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) — The linked piece at the also reports on the TISA.
The Guardian has an op-ed out today (30 May 16) sub-titled: “If you needed proof that trade agreements are just an excuse to hand big business power at our expense, look no further than Ceta, a deal between the EU and Canada”.
Why care about what the Brits think? Because an attack on Democracy anywhere is an attack on Democracy everywhere.
The full op-ed about CETA and TTIP can be found here: Think TTIP is a threat to democracy?
For more coverage of TTIP from the Guardian see this: The Guardian news and comment on the TTIP trade deal
First, some some quotes from several of the linked article:
. . . from Donald Trump to Jeremy Corbyn, there is a recognition that “trade” has become little more than a synonym for big business to take ever more control of society.
I’m going to rework the following paragraph in order to make it more general (my edits in brackets[]):
Like the CETA deal, [insert name of trade deal here ] contains a new legal system, open only to foreign corporations and investors. Should the [your local government here] make a decision, say, to outlaw dangerous chemicals, improve food safety or put cigarettes in plain packaging, a [insert any signatory country here] company can sue the [your local government here] for “unfairness”. And by unfairness this simply means they can’t make as much profit as they expected. The “trial” would be held as a special tribunal, overseen by corporate lawyers.
The G7’s problems show that many of us have recognised that trade deals have made the world a playground for the super-rich – they are part of our staggeringly unequal economy. But the G7 is unable to think beyond the interests of the world’s elite. It’s up to us to reclaim our democracy as citizens, and the movements against TTIP and Ceta are the frontline.
Time has this to say: New Trade Deal May Be Doomed by Populism and Suspicion on Both Sides of the Atlantic
And here’s a documentary from the WikiLeaks Channel on the “Three T’s” TTIP, TPP, and TISA trade deals: The US strategy to create a new global legal and economic system: TPP, TTIP, TISA.
This is a huge deal. If these treaties get passed you can kiss gun control among others goodbye (Glock, Heckler & Koch, & Uzi could sue). The US has already been sued (under NAFTA) for scuttling the Keystone pipeline, and Australia has been sued by Philip-Morris for enacting anti-smoking measures under another trade deal.
Since trade deals like this need to be approved by the Senate before being ratified by the President make sure you know where your Senator and especially your candidates for the Senate and President stand on these deals.