Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: What are 3 things that would make any trade agreement acceptable to those opposing TPP? [View all]think
(11,641 posts)32. Why should it be the perspective of over 500 US corporate lobbyists & executives?
Don't you think workers in 3rd world countries would like the opportunity to organize unions with out the fear of being murdered?
Don't citizens in other countries want trade agreements to make sure their water, air, and lands aren't polluted by big
companies?
Aren't people in these other countries concerned about the power of these US CORPORATIONS who had so much input in the agreement?
No one wants to stop globalization. But it should be done fairly and include the concerns of more than just the corporations and their profits.
The article below was written last year but the point of who was involved in creating the TPP are still valid:
Who is writing the TPP?
By Elizabeth Warren and Rosa DeLauro MAY 11, 2015
CONGRESS IS in an intense debate over trade bills that will shape the course of the US economy for decades. Much of this debate has been characterized as a fight over whether international trade itself creates or destroys American jobs. There is, however, another major concern that modern trade agreements are often less about trade and more about giant multinational corporations finding new ways to rig the economic system to benefit themselves. Hillary Clinton has said that the United States should be advocating a level and fair playing field, not special favors for big business, in our trade deals. We agree with this blunt assessment and believe every member of Congress should consider this carefully before voting to help advance these agreements.
Advocates of the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive 12-country agreement, sell this proposal as a free trade deal but the United States already has free trade agreements with half of the countries at the negotiating table, and only five of the treatys 29 draft chapters reportedly deal with traditional trade issues. While reducing traditional barriers to trade with countries like Japan will facilitate some international commerce, the TPP is about more than reducing tariffs.
~Snip~
The president argues that the TPP is about who will write the rules for 40 percent of the worlds economy the United States or China. But who is writing the TPP? The text has been classified and the public isnt permitted to see it, but 28 trade advisory committees have been intimately involved in the negotiations. Of the 566 committee members, 480, or 85 percent, are senior corporate executives or representatives from industry lobbying groups. Many of the advisory committees are made up entirely of industry representatives.
Read more:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/05/11/elizabeth-warren-and-rosa-delauro-who-writing-tpp/2FQZAV6uz9GGQI6pe3cd0K/story.html
By Elizabeth Warren and Rosa DeLauro MAY 11, 2015
CONGRESS IS in an intense debate over trade bills that will shape the course of the US economy for decades. Much of this debate has been characterized as a fight over whether international trade itself creates or destroys American jobs. There is, however, another major concern that modern trade agreements are often less about trade and more about giant multinational corporations finding new ways to rig the economic system to benefit themselves. Hillary Clinton has said that the United States should be advocating a level and fair playing field, not special favors for big business, in our trade deals. We agree with this blunt assessment and believe every member of Congress should consider this carefully before voting to help advance these agreements.
Advocates of the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive 12-country agreement, sell this proposal as a free trade deal but the United States already has free trade agreements with half of the countries at the negotiating table, and only five of the treatys 29 draft chapters reportedly deal with traditional trade issues. While reducing traditional barriers to trade with countries like Japan will facilitate some international commerce, the TPP is about more than reducing tariffs.
~Snip~
The president argues that the TPP is about who will write the rules for 40 percent of the worlds economy the United States or China. But who is writing the TPP? The text has been classified and the public isnt permitted to see it, but 28 trade advisory committees have been intimately involved in the negotiations. Of the 566 committee members, 480, or 85 percent, are senior corporate executives or representatives from industry lobbying groups. Many of the advisory committees are made up entirely of industry representatives.
Read more:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/05/11/elizabeth-warren-and-rosa-delauro-who-writing-tpp/2FQZAV6uz9GGQI6pe3cd0K/story.html
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
66 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
What are 3 things that would make any trade agreement acceptable to those opposing TPP? [View all]
uponit7771
Jul 2016
OP
"we" didnt prop wall street that's a wingerish meme "we" are sick of people spouting wingerish memes
uponit7771
Jul 2016
#16
Dogmatic isn't progressive, there's a reason why we do trade and not isolate ourselves
uponit7771
Jul 2016
#15
And yet we do major trade boycotts such as the sanctions against South Africa
Bluenorthwest
Jul 2016
#66
So pretty much Brexit would lower the current GDP of Britain right now seeing they just voted to...
uponit7771
Jul 2016
#22
This reads whats not to like in TPP, I'm asking for 3 things every trade agreement has to have to...
uponit7771
Jul 2016
#19
First off, why is it always from our/USA perspective? What about poor counties who we have not
Hoyt
Jul 2016
#31
Why should it be the perspective of over 500 US corporate lobbyists & executives?
think
Jul 2016
#32
I believe many here, view foreign workers as competition, little more than scabs. The hatred shows.
Hoyt
Jul 2016
#33
Trump supporters might have a disgusting opinion like that but Democrats & Unions want FAIR trade
think
Jul 2016
#34
How would the USTR address foreign murders? I agree it's revolting, but are we supposed to bomb
Hoyt
Jul 2016
#35
Bomb them? Good grief. Can we be realistic here and not engage is sensationalization?
think
Jul 2016
#37
They are considered scabs when people complain that they will work for less, even if no one
Hoyt
Jul 2016
#45
Farmers making 50 cents a day are getting jobs at higher pay, some much higher $8/hour at Audi, etc.
Hoyt
Jul 2016
#64
Froman has many, many more years as a government official. Unions' position has been clear, no
Hoyt
Jul 2016
#60
Lots of small businesses and international businesses in FL are in favor of TPP...
Sancho
Jul 2016
#8
America doesn't have all the resources to everything, the notion that we do is false and I agree....
uponit7771
Jul 2016
#20
Thx for your responce. on 1 what would a country or corp do if they law of the land is lax like the
uponit7771
Jul 2016
#21
Not having it written by Lobbyists, All Pacific Rim including China--Right now China benefits most!
TheBlackAdder
Jul 2016
#23
I agree, our CURRENT displacement laws suck and aren't enforced at all.. corps are ALLOWED to...
uponit7771
Jul 2016
#26
I've heard both that labor and environmental standards not enforced well enough,
pampango
Jul 2016
#27
So displacement laws strengthed sounds like its at the top of most people's list. Our displacement
uponit7771
Jul 2016
#40
1. That nation that has the highest human and environmental standards shall dictate all conditions.
Alex4Martinez
Jul 2016
#29
Since our labor standards are so low, we'll only be "dictating" conditions with Third World
pampango
Jul 2016
#46
I agree, up thread some talked about displacement laws being too lax. If they displacement laws were
uponit7771
Jul 2016
#51
I don't care to legitimize nor empower governments that abuse and oppress minority populations.
Bluenorthwest
Jul 2016
#52
Judicial power of the states involved in disputes should not be diminished
The Second Stone
Jul 2016
#57