President Obama is desperate to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, marshalling most Republicans and some Democrats last month to narrowly push through a pact that was earlier defeated in the House. Pope Francis is eager to save the earth, “our common home” from unbridled economic activity that the TPP would sanction and bless. On June 18, as the …
Latest TPP Draft Benefits Big Pharma By Slashing Access to Generics – Sarah Lazare
With another round of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations slated for the end of this month, the administration of President Barack Obama is aiming to force developing nations to adopt Big Pharma-friendly policies that are so bad for public health Obama himself has opposed them in the United States. Citing leaked drafts of the agreement, as well as officials “familiar with the latest May …
U.S. Trade Policy Is Pro-Rich, Not Free Trade – Dean Baker
Thomas Edsall had a very good piece on divisions in the Democratic Party over trade policy in the NYT this morning. The piece cites a large body of academic research pointing out that U.S. trade policy has played a large role in destroying manufacturing jobs and redistributing income upwards. It notes that this is the basis of the opposition of unions to …
Obama’s Pacific Trade Deal Trails Behind China’s Development Vision By Nile Bowie
Often touted as the centerpiece of the Obama administration’s re-engagement with Asia, a close vote in the US Senate has brought the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) a major step closer to becoming law. Facing significant opposition within his own party, the US president has secured fast-track negotiating authority, limiting Congress’s constitutional authority to regulate the contents of the trade accord. Though …
TISA Leaks Part Deux: More Evidence of Concerted Attack on Democracy – Deirdre Fulton
The Trade in Services Agreement “responds to major corporate lobbies’ desire to deregulate services,” says global trade expert. (Photo: GGAADD/flickr/cc) One day after it leaked a trove of documents related to the massive, pro-corporate Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), WikiLeaks on Thursday published another four chapters of the proposed 52-nation trade deal, covering key areas ahead of the next negotiating round on Monday. …
TISA Exposed: ‘Holy Grail’ of Leaks Reveals Detailed Plot for Corporate Takeover – Deirdre Fulton
Days ahead of another round of secret international negotiations, WikiLeaks on Wednesday released what it described as “a modern journalistic holy grail: the secret Core Text for the largest ‘trade deal’ in history.” That deal is the Trade in Services Agreement, or TISA, currently being negotiated by 52 nations that together account for two-thirds of global GDP. Those nations are the United …
ACTION ALERT: NPR Celebrates Fast-Track Victory With an All-Corporate Lobbyist Segment By Jim Naureckas
After the Senate joined the House of Representatives in granting President Barack Obama fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements,National Public Radioaired one report (Morning Edition, 6/25/15) on the legislative action that paves the way for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and other corporate-friendly international deals. The report, by correspondent Yuki Noguchi, had three sources: Business Roundtable president John …
Obama’s Push for Corporate Rule: A Moment of Opportunity – David Korten
Only a few months ago, President Barack Obama was at loggerheads with Republican members of Congress intent on destroying his administration. With bewildering speed, Obama has since turned against his own political base to form an alliance on trade issues with those same Republican members of Congress. Obama’s most vigorous opposition now comes from progressives, including most of the senators …
“King Obama,” his Royal Court, and the TPP – Ralph Nader
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – a global corporate noose around U.S. local, state, and national sovereignty – narrowly passed a major procedural hurdle in the Congress by gaining “fast track” status. This term “fast track” is a euphemism for your members of Congress – senators and representatives – handcuffing themselves, so as to prevent any amendments or adequate debate before …
Killing a Nation With Euphemisms: TPP-Eats-Medicare Edition – By William Rivers Pitt
This week, legislation to give President Obama fast-track trade agreement authority (TPA) will take its star turn in the GOP-controlled Senate. The cloture vote is said to be taking place on Tuesday, and if the 60-vote threshold is reached, the final vote on the bill will happen the same day, or on Wednesday. More importantly, however, is the following vote, …