Trans-Pacific Partnership

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QuickSilver

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https://ustr.gov/tpp

President Obama’s trade agenda is dedicated to expanding economic opportunity for American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses. That’s why we are negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 21st century trade agreement that will boost U.S. economic growth, support American jobs, and grow Made-in-America exports to some of the most dynamic and fastest growing countries in the world.
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As the cornerstone of the Obama Administration’s economic policy in the Asia Pacific, the Trans-Pacific Partnership reflects the United States’ economic priorities and values. The TPP not only seeks to provide new and meaningful market access for American goods and services exports, but also set high-standard rules for trade, and address vital 21st-century issues within the global economy.
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So who really knows anything about this? It's all in secret apparently. Obama is looking for "Fast Track" so this trade agreement will be forced to pass without debate or amendments. Apparently no one really knows many details.. Many Democrats and even some Republicans are against it. But I am unclear on why. Democrats say it will hurt middle class Americans.. Republicans fear for our Sovereinty. I find it hard to believe that Obama would do somethng to hurt workers, but we really don't know much about this.. Some call it NAFTA on steroids... and it's scarey..
 

So are most members of the Teaparty.. Apparently it gives Foreign Corporations power to write legislation, or something... so they, and rightly so, feel it compromises our sovereinty.. Same as you, I don't know much about it. I want Obama to explain what is so good about it.. and HOW it's going to protect AMericans from unfair trade practices and curency manipulation.. WE NEED MORE INFO!!
 

Some describe as another NAFTA. Must say even the west coast press doesn't seem to agree with this treaty.

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-20150206-column.html#page=1

http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2025662523_sorscheropedfairtrade10xml.html

This has been either stealthy or an under reported treaty unless you were paying attention. I didn't realize how many were against it until I saw where the same groups participating in the Ferguson or NY protests are also against this treaty. Apparently corporate America wins big here.
 
What can we do??? This blows my mind... Don't Corporations hate Obama? Doesn't Obama claim to be for the Middle Class... This just isn't adding up.
 
"Not Enough Info" ...that is what Senator Warren said too...

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Wednesday voiced her opposition to President Barack Obama’s top international trade nominee because of a secretive free trade agreement.

“I am deeply concerned about the transparency record of the U.S. Trade Representative and with one ongoing trade agreement in particular — the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” she said on the Senate floor.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has been negotiated behind closed-doors for years by trade representatives from Australia, Brunei, Chile, Canada, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam. Though the free trade agreement could have wide ranging consequences on workers and consumers, the public only knows a few details of the treaty thanks to leaked documents.

“I have heard the argument that transparency would undermine the Trade Representative’s policy to complete the trade agreement because public opposition would be significant,” Warren explained. “In other words, if people knew what was going on, they would stop it. This argument is exactly backwards. If transparency would lead to widespread public opposition to a trade agreement, then that trade agreement should not be the policy of the United States.”

The Senate confirmed Michael Froman as the new United States Trade Representative by a 93-4 vote. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Carl Levin (D-MI) joined Warren in voting no.

Link: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/...le-knew-what-was-going-on-they-would-stop-it/
 
There are many references to the TPP on the Internet...most are speculation because the full text of this proposed legislation is being treated in a very secretive manner. Only a handful of inside negotiators have access to the full text, and even Congress has been supplied with only a brief description of what is intended. It appears to be "corporate driven", and would reduce many of the U.S. regulations that currently protect the American consumer and worker from substandard foreign products, and reduced jobs/wages from foreign competition. Here is just one example of the info available on the Net....

http://www.citizen.org/tpp

The fact that all these negotiations are being conducted behind closed doors, with little info released to the public, strongly suggests that this proposal is NOT in the best interest of the US public.
 
Don M. said:
There are many references to the TPP on the Internet...most are speculation because the full text of this proposed legislation is being treated in a very secretive manner. Only a handful of inside negotiators have access to the full text, and even Congress has been supplied with only a brief description of what is intended. It appears to be "corporate driven", and would reduce many of the U.S. regulations that currently protect the American consumer and worker from substandard foreign products, and reduced jobs/wages from foreign competition. Here is just one example of the info available on the Net....

http://www.citizen.org/tpp

The fact that all these negotiations are being conducted behind closed doors, with little info released to the public, strongly suggests that this proposal is NOT in the best interest of the US public.
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What stands out right away is that only 5 of 24 chapters or sections of the pact deal with actual trade. It also sounds like mandatory arbitration for plaintiffs and countries with 'tribunals', in other words it keeps the corporations out of court. The countries where these companies set up shop are screwed as will be the US because we can't compete in a rigged game tilted in these corporations favor. Also mentions internet and drugs.
 
QuickSilver said:
So are most members of the Teaparty.. Apparently it gives Foreign Corporations power to write legislation, or something... so they, and rightly so, feel it compromises our sovereinty.. Same as you, I don't know much about it. I want Obama to explain what is so good about it.. and HOW it's going to protect AMericans from unfair trade practices and curency manipulation.. WE NEED MORE INFO!!
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We don't know anything about 3 trade treaties that we know are almost finalised (maybe even signed already). We're more worried about being sued by American Big Corporations that don't like our legislation - environmental, quarantine, labour laws, carbon emissions tax etc
I reckon it's you guys who constitute the biggest threat to our sovereignty rather than the other way round.
 
Dame Warrigal said:
We don't know anything about 3 trade treaties that we know are almost finalised (maybe even signed already). We're more worried about being sued by American Big Corporations that don't like our legislation - environmental, quarantine, labour laws, carbon emissions tax etc
I reckon it's you guys who constitute the biggest threat to our sovereignty rather than the other way round.
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"You guys?" As in US... the people? Surely you jest.. I can assure you that the only "guys" making out like bandits on this will be the large Multi-national Corporations. "Us guys" will be screwed like the rest of the "common folk".
 
QuickSilver said:
I certainly cannot claim ownership.... It almost feels like you are blaming the American people for this clusterfutch.
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Trust me... WE are going to suffer as much as anyone else with this mess... Multi-nationals claim no country... they write their own songs.. and countries dance to them
 
Blaming you? No.

But the size and power of US based multinationals is something that worries us when we hear that our government is entering into secret free trade agreements. Somehow we aren't so worried about the Chinese or the Japanese. They don't seem to be quite as litigious.

We have some very unique things that we want to protect and we worry about some multinational challenging our quarantine laws on the grounds that they are anti free trade. We also want to protect our pharmaceutical benefits scheme and we don't trust our own government not to sell it down the river to secure a deal.
 
Dame Warrigal said:
Blaming you? No.

But the size and power of US based multinationals is something that worries us when we hear that our government is entering into secret free trade agreements. Somehow we aren't so worried about the Chinese or the Japanese. They don't seem to be quite as litigious.

We have some very unique things that we want to protect and we worry about some multinational challenging our quarantine laws on the grounds that they are anti free trade. We also want to protect our pharmaceutical benefits scheme and we don't trust our own government not to sell it down the river to secure a deal.
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And we are worried about them coming here and rewriting regulations to suit them.. Pretty soon we will all be living in the toilet of Corporations.... and there will be no recourse. Believe me... if we (the average Joe) could stop this... I believe we would. We are powerless... What is concerning everyone here is that Obama has asked to "fast track" this treaty... which means an up or down vote.. NO DEBATE... and no amendments placed by Congress.. This is the first time I have seen Ds and Rs on the same page... maybe for different reasons, but still will vote the same.
 
Been seeing a lot of speculation including one that this treaty could create the Pacific equivalent of the EU(European Union). Certain countries could strain this partner ship much like Greece has with the EU.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dean-baker/will-the-united-states-en_b_6649252.html

One of the problems with this pact is the US dollar won't be protected or propped up with a minimum which could fester a trade deficit. Also when trading among different countries and/or currencies what can happen if one currency doesn't have a minimum value are wild swings in value. The spike in the Swiss Franc last month put brokers/banks out of business.
 
It sounds to me as if the primary supporters of this TPP are the global Drug Companies. There was something in the news recently where the Supreme Court put major limitations on the ability of people to sue the Drug companies for the "Side Effects" of many of these prescription drugs...and now the TPP would quite probably allow these same drug companies to manufacture their drugs in Asia..at substantially reduced costs. Were this to happen, and the Asian drugs be made to the same standards as things like Pet Food, anyone taking these drugs would be exposed to even greater dangers.

Perhaps this is the governments answer to the rising costs of Medicare and Social Security...kill off increased numbers of Seniors with tainted drugs, so that our entitlement programs no longer have to support large numbers of Seniors.
 
What bothers me so much is that Obama is all gung ho for it... wants it fast tracked... but won't tell us a darn thing...oh.. except how wonderful it will be. I simply don't understand what he is doing.. I've trusted him... until now..
 
QuickSilver said:
What bothers me so much is that Obama is all gung ho for it... wants it fast tracked... but won't tell us a darn thing...oh.. except how wonderful it will be. I simply don't understand what he is doing.. I've trusted him... until now..
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What you have to keep in mind is that Obama is first and foremost a Politician. As such, he has accepted vast sums of money from the wealthy and special interests, during his campaigns. That money comes with Obligations, and at some point the big contributors expect to receive some "value" for their "generosity. Obama now has less that two years left in the Oval Office, with nothing to lose...stay tuned for what may be coming down the pike.
 
Don M. said:
What you have to keep in mind is that Obama is first and foremost a Politician. As such, he has accepted vast sums of money from the wealthy and special interests, during his campaigns. That money comes with Obligations, and at some point the big contributors expect to receive some "value" for their "generosity. Obama now has less that two years left in the Oval Office, with nothing to lose...stay tuned for what may be coming down the pike.
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Still.... all the rhetoric about income inequality, and taxing the wealthy, and leveling the playing field.... to now do something so harmful to the very people he has purported to care so much about..... This would DESTROY American jobs and also our environment with regulation elimination.... it seems too far fetched.. I just wish the full text was out and that Obama would come out and explain how this will be such a great thing for America.
 
Obama is no different than most politicians....tell the public what they want to hear...then, go about the duties of keeping the Big Money boys happy.
 

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