[CTC] Act now to stop back-room trade talks

[Arthur Stamoulis]

Unfortunately, this one isn't an April Fool's joke...


http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/us-abandons-tppa-fig-leaf-transparency/5/119866

US abandons TPPA 'fig-leaf of transparency'
Wednesday, 4 April, 2012 - 18:35

"As anticipated, now that the US has taken control of the Trans- 
Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations it has removed the only  
pretense of transparency - the day-long 'stakeholder' programme where  
critics can present information and analysis directly to negotiators",  
says Professor Jane Kelsey, from the Law School at the University of  
Auckland.

Professor Kelsey has spoken at these events in Auckland, Santiago, Ho  
Chi Minh City, Melbourne and Chicago on issues of investment,  
financial services, development issues, state-owned enterprises, and  
human rights impact assessments.

The US has announced that stakeholders can register and be allocated a  
'table', but not make any presentations, at the next round of  
negotiations in Dallas from 8 to 18 May.

The stakeholder presentations have offered detailed expert analyses of  
the legal issues and implications of TPPA proposals that many  
countries' negotiators do not have time, resources or knowledge to  
develop themselves.

They also provide important support for the positions that countries  
are taking in the negotiations, especially against the very aggressive  
demands from the US.

Even though it is voluntary for the negotiators to attend, they often  
ask for follow-up discussions on the issues and how they might protect  
their interests - without, of course, the advisers having access to  
the draft text.

"Clearly, even this limited engagement is being too effective for the  
US' liking", said Professor Kelsey. "We know the US has been annoyed  
that other countries' negotiators want to attend these events and has  
actively dissuaded some from doing so. Now the future rounds of  
negotiations are being held in the US, it has been able to cancel the  
programme altogether."

The corporate lobby has the money to buy time with delegations, if  
they are not given formal access during the negotiations. Critics of  
the US position on intellectual property and investment have  
previously hosted breakfasts and lunches, but this is expensive and  
the last time it was tried in the US the hotel cancelled the booking,  
presumably at the US government's behest.

Professor Kelsey has asked the lead New Zealand negotiator, David  
Walker, whether New Zealand has agreed or objected to this latest step  
to intensify the already obsessive secrecy surrounding the  
negotiations, or will be prepared to raise the issue, but has yet to  
hear.

"Without this fig-leaf of transparency and our ability to access and  
assist the negotiators, the US will have even greater ability to bully  
them into a deal that can't be unwound once it sees the light of day."

"It is time to insist that New Zealand's government pulls the plug on  
this travesty that has no place in a 21st century democracy", urged  
Professor Kelsey.



Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826




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