Why is the TPP so bloody bad?

[wickerwoman]

14. Not an expert myself, either,

so thanks for the discussion.

I guess to answer the OPs question in a less NZ-specific way, "What's so bad about the TPPA?" is its implications for national sovereignty when regulation that creates additional costs for businesses can be appealed to an unelected body.

Another example I vaguely recall is Australia wanting to require very graphic anti-smoking ads on cigarette packaging which the tobacco industry felt would hurt their sales and therefore reduce their competitiveness.

The basic principle is why should a company based in another country be allowed to potentially override the decisions of a democratically elected government?

How would the US feel if a Chinese company bought some land next to Gettysburg or Arlington National Cemetery and then used the TPPA to override historic heritage protection laws to build a theme park that was completely out of character for the setting?

I'm all for increasing globalism but not at the expense of democratic accountability and respect for local governments.