Trans-Pacific Trade Talks Resume With Almost No Media Coverage

Shouldn't it be a trade violation to threaten to move someone's job to another country? Shouldn't we negotiate trade agreements that increase people's wages on both sides of a trade border? These are the kinds of agreements we would make if We the People were negotiating trade agreements with representatives of the working people in other countries. Unfortunately that is not the kind of trade agreements that our current trade negotiation process produces.

The secret Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations resumed this week, this time in Washington. TPP is a massive agreement that sets up new rules for over 40 percent of the global economy. It will have profound effects on our jobs, our standard of living now and in the future and our ability to make a living as a country. Oddly, though, as of Monday morning you have to read about it in Japan Times because few-to-no U.S. media outlets are covering it.

In spite of the lack of American media coverage of this tremendously important agreement, representatives of labor, environmental, family farm, consumer, Internet freedom, public health, faith, human rights and community organizations held a rally Monday outside the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. These organizations represent "stakeholders" from all countries that are denied a seat at the TPP negotiating table.

Here's what the Japan Times reported, in "TPP talks get back underway in Washington":

"Chief negotiators from 12 countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership initiative resumed negotiations in Washington after their leaders reaffirmed last month they will conclude an agreement as soon as possible."

Media Blackout

Here are a few stories about the media blackout of this important treaty -- all in the non-corporate media:

Common Dreams, As TPP Opposition Soars, Corporate Media Blackout Deafening

Media Matters, STUDY: Media Leave Viewers In The Dark About Trans-Pacific Partnership

Nation of Change, Mainstream Media Blackout of the Trans-Pacific Trade Agreement

Project Censored's 2013 news that didn't make the news #3 Trans-Pacific Partnership Threatens a Regime of Corporate Global Governance

CREDO petition from February: TELL THE MEDIA: IT'S TIME TO EXPOSE THE TPP

Events This Week

At today's rally in Washington, George Kohl, senior director of Communications Workers of America, said, "We believe in trade. We are fighting against old trade policy that literally guarantees corporate profits at the expense of working families in all nations. In the weeks ahead, we will mobilize like never before against Fast Track authorizing legislation and the TPP, and for 21st century trade that gives workers' rights, environmental issues and other concerns the same standing as corporate profits."

Here are scenes from the rally...