Global TPP fears are on the rise

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is raising concerns not only in the U.S., but increasingly abroad as well. The reason is a familiar one to working Americans who have sounded the alarm about the potential trade pact -- jobs.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5GNPh4L9dyFEjafZgdiLgok9fpP5_M0vgNOuTOWAXZejHvGXGnGsP1spLECr7NtKsbzE1Y7RlXgK3QNdhzmGV_vRO4iWp0vuqjkx_b7TV33eLlje3d5hnhidRw71jJ4kMMouyRMMkqih/s1600/tpp.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5GNPh4L9dyFEjafZgdiLgok9fpP5_M0vgNOuTOWAXZejHvGXGnGsP1spLECr7NtKsbzE1Y7RlXgK3QNdhzmGV_vRO4iWp0vuqjkx_b7TV33eLlje3d5hnhidRw71jJ4kMMouyRMMkqih/s320/tpp.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At a public hearing held today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to discuss the TPP, attendees raised fears that </span><a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/08/02/Consumers-laud-move-to-block-stolen-handphones.aspx" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the “free trade” agreement was just an attempt by the U.S.</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to dominate the economies of the 11 other nations currently negotiating the agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They worried that smaller businesses would be stamped out and many jobs lost. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> That message was not lost on the nation’s leaders. Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohammad, Malaysia’s international trade minister, said the negative mood was apparent:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I respect it because the reason we are doing this is to listen, and to be a good listener, we have to respect people’s views. I recognize that a lot more will have to be done to engage the public on TPPA.<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It’s just the latest example of a growing movement against the Pacific Rim trade deal in that country. Last month, Tun Dr Mahathir,Malaysia’s former prime minister, </span><a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/Opinion/Columnists/Along-The-Watchtower/Profile/Articles/2013/07/17/discord-over-secret-talk.aspx" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">voiced his opposition to the TPP</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, calling it:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A partnership of the unequal, of the strong to take advantage of the weak.<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Malaysians are not alone in that belief. Earlier this year, </span><a href="http://boingboing.net/2013/07/31/prominent-politicians-and-nego.html" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chile’s former chief TPP negotiator also called out</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the trade pact, describing it as a threat to all involved nations. He said it would limit options when it came to health and education developments, as well as biological and cultural diversity. He also said nations’ economic and policy decision-making would be curtailed as well.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Growing pessimism, however, doesn’t seem to be stalling efforts to move forward with finalizing the TPP. </span><a href="http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/02/business/tpp-talks-set-four-stage-tariff-deadline/#.Ufvwq2zD_cs" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 12 involved nations have set four deadlines</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for reaching a consensus on eliminating tariffs and want to have a basic agreement in place by the end of October. It is expected that bilateral negotiations will be wrapped up by Sept. 20. The next round of talks is set to begin Aug. 22 in Brunei.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The clock is ticking on this agreement. Workers across the globe are waking up to the reality that this deal is a loser for them but a major coup for corporations. Now it’s time to let elected officials know we are onto the game.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here in the U.S., we’ve seen this before with such deals as NAFTA. No one is against trade, just unfair trade. It’s time to stop letting big corporations ship our jobs overseas and dump our wages and benefits overboard along the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The first step is to convince Congress that approving an up-or-down vote on the TPP with no chance to alter the deal and limited debate is a net loser. Lawmakers will likely take up the issue soon after returning to Washington next month.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br /><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Congress, the ball's in your court. Don't drop it.</span></o:p>

Global TPP fears are on the rise

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is raising concerns not only in the U.S., but increasingly abroad as well. The reason is a familiar on...

Read more »