Australian Labor Party: We've rejected ISDS with the U.S. in the past. Why accept it now? [View all]

[cali]

Labor has called on the federal government to follow the example of the Howard years and oppose the inclusion of a controversial dispute-settlement provision in trade talks with the US.

Shadow trade minister Penny Wong says accepting Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement could jeopardise domestic policies in areas ranging from healthcare to the environment.

“Trade Minister Andrew Robb should explain why he is willing to accept ISDS provisions in the TPP when the Howard Government would not accept them in the Australia-United States free Trade Agreement,” Senator Wong said in a statement today.

“ISDS provisions in the TPP could allow multinationals to challenge Australian policies designed to protect public welfare in international arbitration tribunals," Ms Wong said.


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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/latest/reject-tpp-dispute-settlement-alp/story-e6frg90f-1227356065402