TPP Set To Be Finalized According To Australian Trade Minister - FDL

[WillyT]

TPP Set To Be Finalized According To Australian Trade Minister
By: DSWright - FDL
Monday January 13, 2014 10:17 am

<snip>

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is heading towards its final version according to the Australian Trade Minister. Reportedly the controversial US provision on intellectual property (IP) is no longer the stumbling block, instead the section of the agreement on agriculture, particularly sugar, is requiring extra efforts to complete.

Trade Minister Andrew Robb says the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement is close to being “sealed”. Mr Robb, in the US to lead the Australian government’s delegation for the G’Day USA promotion, said the Obama administration had wanted him to go to Washington DC for talks on the FTA. However, he said he would wait for formal TPP discussions scheduled “in a couple of weeks”.

The US’ IP proposal gained international attention when it was published by Wikileaks. The IP plan gave massive power to media companies to disrupt the internet to protect their government granted monopolies. Also included at the US’ insistence are plans to deregulate Wall Street, essentially going around Congress and the meager new Dodd-Frank law.

Yet, according to Trade Minister Robb, it is not America’s promotion of media conglomerates that is causing problems at this stage – but their favoritism towards domestic sugar producers.

Mr Robb told The Australian that many of the issues surrounding the TPP were close to resolution “but it still requires some market access issues to be put on the table”. He said, for instance, Japan needed to liberalise more on trade and the US could be more open on agriculture, including sectors such as sugar.

For those unaware, the Fanjul brothers run a virtual monopoly on sugar in America and have shoveled millions into both political parties...

<snip>

Link: http://news.firedoglake.com/2014/01/13/tpp-set-to-be-finalized-according-to-australian-trade-minister/

[Egalitarian Thug]

1. Thanks for keeping on this. K&R n/t

[daleanime]

2. Kick....

[malthaussen]

3. It's like watching a slow-motion train wreck.

Of course, some people find that morbidly fascinating.

This whole TPP thing makes me feel like it's time to burn down the house.

-- Mal

[Octafish]

4. Rich Get Richer already codified into law.

TPP will just speed up the process and improve Washington's productivity.

[jsr]

5. Recommend

[pa28]

6. This is really bad news.

Up until now it looked like the parties were still too far apart to complete the agreement before the end of the year.

https://wikileaks.org/IMG/pdf/tpp-salt-lake-positions.pdf

I don't think we have the votes to stop fast track either. Damn.

[KoKo]

7. Its so secretive...leaking out in pieces that it's hard to get a unified movement

to Fight Back. Which is probably exactly WHY it's done piecemeal with most of it secret.

They don't want any unified Bi-Partisan Movement to stop it. It would scramble the brains of both us Dems and the RW Repugs if neither Party signed on.

But...the PTB want the deal and unless the Senate Fast Track can be stopped to allow time to see what the full Bill looks like...then we are done for....

[Baitball Blogger]

8. This will destroy Obama's legacy.

This if worse than Clinton's NAFTA. Much, much worse.

[FiveGoodMen]

9. ...which is the LEAST significant thing about it

[Baitball Blogger]

10. From our standpoint.

It may be a factor that Obama should consider. A bad idea only gets worse when you're talking about foreign policy that intrudes on sovereignty issues.

[woo me with science]

11. For his service to the ruling One Percent,

he and his family will be taken care of, handsomely.

[Baitball Blogger]

12. I hope that in Obama's case, that he will recognize that it will be impossible for him to make that

transition without losing himself in the process.

[woo me with science]

13. "Lose himself"?

His choices and priorities as President have been exceedingly consistent on behalf of the One Percent.

He was pretty clearly selected for this job long ago, based on his aptitude and willingness to take the role.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=692873

[Swede Atlanta]

14. What's wrong with the American people?

Why aren't they calling their Congresscritters, Senators and the President on this?

Why indeed? Some are focused on surviving - moving from shelter to shelter, taking in hot meals where offered and avoiding sleeping on the streets when cold and wet. Others are searching for work and focused on trying to provide for their families.

But the vast majority are simply couch potatoes. They don't understand the implications or don't care. They think union members are fascists and like their cheap goods at WalMart.

The TPP will fundamentally destroy the American economy. We will all be working at McDonalds or the same for a minimum wage that has not been raised in 15 years with no safety net.

The rich will be richer and fatter than ever and laughing as their limousines splash you with dirty drainage water as you stand on the sidewalk.

[awoke_in_2003]

16. Very little has leaked about it...

and corporate America's PR department, also known as the media, do not care to let Americans know about it.

[truedelphi]

19. If only word would get out that the TPP would ban

The practice of putting fave kitteh and dawgie photos on facebook, everyone would know about it and oppose it by tomorrow!

[WillyT]

20. LOL !!! - You Bad !!!

[bvar22]

23. If "calling" worked, they wouldn't let us do it.

The only thing that works is MONEY, and LOTS of it.

This has all the odor of a Done Deal,
finalized by the Global .01%,
and forced on all the rest of us.

....because they CAN.

[blkmusclmachine]

15. Our Government doesn't work for us anymore. Collectively, we don't have enough money to matter.

[Bragi]

17. #NoTPPFastTrack

Check out the Fast Track Bill. This ”trade” deal is the most non-transparent international initiative since I dunno what.

See

Why House Democrats Might Kill Obama's Big Trade Deal

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/11/fast-track-trade-democrats_n_4580720.html

[WillyT]

18. Thank You For That !!!

[WillyT]

21. Kick !!!

[liberal_at_heart]

22. K&R

[bvar22]

24. DURec.

BOHICA