Wednesday at 11 a.m. the AFL-CIO is holding a TPP briefing on "What Negotiators Should Be Discussing Behind Closed Doors," at their Washington headquarters at 815 16th St, NW.
"While the Obama administration meets behind closed doors this week with representatives of the countries involved in negotiating the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), the AFL-CIO will host a briefing outlining what the negotiators should be discussing. The briefing will highlight what must be included in the negotiations for it to truly work for working people and how the TPP will only gain labor's support if it will create American jobs and promote high labor and environmental standards. The briefing follows a week of increased Congressional scrutiny on the negotiations and the involved countries' history of labor abuses."
Secret Negotiations
The TPP negotiations are secret, and the kids of people at that D.C. rally are not represented at the bargaining table. But corporate representatives have access to drafts of the treaty, and the negotiators typically come from and expect to go to lucrative corporate positions after the treaty is finalized -- assuming they "play ball."
While we do not know exactly what is being negotiated, we do know from leaks -- and previous "NAFTA-style" trade agreements -- tell us what to expect. Much of TPP is about "investor protections" and not trade at all. These provisions allow corporations to sue governments for doing things that infringe on profits -- like laws and regulations protecting the environment, worker safety, consumers and the health of citizens. For example, under similar agreements already in effect tobacco companies are suing governments to block anti-smoking efforts that protect the health of citizens!
Members of Congress are very concerned about the transparency of the TPP negotiating process. On a call Monday, Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and (rock star) Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) expressed their concerns about the secrecy of TPP as well as the failure to address currency manipulation in the agreement.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) put her finger on the secrecy problem when she said, "Why are the trade talks secret? You'll love this answer. Boy, the things you learn on Capitol Hill. I actually have had supporters of the deal say to me, 'They have to be secret, because if the American people knew what was actually in them, they would be opposed.'"
Currency Manipulation
Currency manipulation is a major trade problem. For example, we could restore up to 5.8 million American jobs, cut our trade deficit by $500 billion a year and increase our gross domestic product by $720 billion just by addressing currency manipulation. (Click through for details.)
Congress is very concerned about this. Last year 60 senators, a bipartisan majority, sent a letter to President Obama asking him to tell TPP negotiators to address currency manipulation. Also last year, a bipartisan majority (230) of members of the U.S. House sent a letter to President Obama saying they want him to tell TPP negotiators to address currency manipulation.
Sixty senators and 230 members of the House want the negotiators to address currency manipulation -- but TPP still does not address currency manipulation. What else do you need to know about the negotiating process, and respect for democracy and national sovereignty?
For more information about the TPP, visit these sites:
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