[CTC] First batch of statements on the TPP signing

Wed Feb 3 13:16:27 PST 2016

Statements from CWA, Friends of the Earth, Machinists, USW and Senator Warren…

Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826

http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/if_tpp_is_progressive_why_must_white_house_rely_on_republican_friendly_orga#.VrJCD1Ierfc <http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/if_tpp_is_progressive_why_must_white_house_rely_on_republican_friendly_orga#.VrJCD1Ierfc>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 3, 2016
CONTACT: Candice Johnson at cjohnson at cwa-union.org and 202-434-1168

If TPP is So Progressive, Why Must White House Rely on “Republican Friendly Organizations” to Sell It to Congress?

Washington, DC – Democratic backers of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal like to claim that the TPP is “the most progressive trade agreement in history.”

If that’s the case, then why must the White House rely on “Republican friendly organizations” and some of the biggest opponents of progressive policies to get the deal through Congress?

As Politico’s Adam Behsudi highlights:

“The White House will be relying on ‘Republican friendly organizations’ to make the case for passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership in Congress, the administration's chief spokesman said today.

‘The good news is that it's not just going to be a Democratic president trying to appeal to Republicans in Congress to support this agreement,’ White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a press briefing.

He named the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Farm Bureau Federation and National Association of Manufacturers among the groups that will be looked upon ‘to make a strong case to the Republicans.’

Many of those groups have expressed support for the deal but conditioned their endorsement on how the administration addresses certain areas of the agreement they view as problematic, such as its provisions on pharmaceuticals, financial services and tobacco.”

According to Shane Larson, Legislative Director at the Communications Workers of America (CWA), “It’s ironic that even the Administration now admits that passage of TPP relies on the support and work of some of the most vehement opponents of real progressive policies. The lack of support from Democrats and the progressive movement clearly demonstrates the emptiness of claims that the TPP is a ‘progressive’ trade agreement. With support for the TPP deteriorating since its public release from even proponents of the Fast-Track TPA, it seems that that USTR

Michael Froman will look for support wherever he can find it. In this case, that means support from the organizations most committed to attacking progressive policies and bankrolling right- wing politicians. The fact is that the TPP would set back rather than advance core progressive issues and values.”

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http://www.foe.org/news/news-releases/2016-02-obama-administration-to-sign-pacific-trade-deal-undermining-climate#sthash.8Bxkiplw.dpuf <http://www.foe.org/news/news-releases/2016-02-obama-administration-to-sign-pacific-trade-deal-undermining-climate#sthash.8Bxkiplw.dpuf>
Friends of the Earth news release

Obama administration to sign Pacific trade deal, undermining climate policy

Posted Feb. 3, 2016 / Posted by: Kate Colwell 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Michael Froman, the U.S. Trade Representative, and the trade ministers of 11 other Asia-Pacific countries will sign the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement in Auckland, New Zealand. The TPP will deregulate protections for peoples and environments and force governments to pay corporations <http://www.foe.org/projects/economics-for-the-earth/blog/2012-06-hazmat-trade-deal-negotiators-in-san-diego-to-focus> and wealthy investors for the cost of complying with environmental <http://www.foe.org/projects/economics-for-the-earth/blog/2012-02-environmentalists-threatened-murdered-in-el-salvador> and public interest safeguards.

The TPP is designed to  expand so-called “free trade” across the Pacific in dirty energy products such as  tar sands oil, coal from the Powder River Basin, and liquefied natural gas shipped out of West Coast ports -- thereby accelerating global warming <https://medium.com/economic-policy-campaign/president-obama-dodges-pacific-trade-deal-threat-to-the-environment-7f9b4ff44c91#.mjw952pjt>. For example, the TPP actually requires the U.S. Department of Energy to approve all exports to TPP countries of liquefied natural gas, which has a far greater carbon footprint than other natural gas.

Erich Pica, President of Friends of the Earth, made the following statement:

The TPP contains all the worst elements of previous so-called “free trade agreements” plus new provisions for dirty energy companies that care little about the existential threat posed by climate change. The TPP would trump the recently-concluded Paris accord on climate change because the TPP, like previous deals, can be effectively enforced by international tribunals with authority to levy retaliatory trade sanctions or unlimited awards of money damages. TransCanada has sued the U.S. under the NAFTA investment chapter for $15 billion for stopping construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. President Obama should renegotiate the TPP.

Link to analysis of environmental and climate threat posed by TPP here <https://medium.com/economic-policy-campaign/president-obama-dodges-pacific-trade-deal-threat-to-the-environment-7f9b4ff44c91#.mjw952pjt>.

Expert contact: Bill Waren, (202) 222-0746, wwaren at foe.org
 <mailto:mknodel at foe.org>Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, kcolwell at foe.org <mailto:kcolwell at foe.org>
###

                                    Contact:           Frank Larkin, IAM

                                                                                                301-967-4520 (office)

202-285-3831 (mobile)

Machinists Union President Responds to TPP Signing

Washington, D.C., February 3, 2016 - International President Robert Martinez, Jr., of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers issued the following statement on the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership by the Obama Administration.

We are deeply disappointed by the announcement of today’s signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which by all accounts will increase the U.S. trade deficit and lead to the export of more family wage American jobs.  Eight years ago, then candidate Barack Obama campaigned for President on a platform that called for a “new day in trade” that would break the job killing NAFTA model.  Unfortunately, the TPP continues that same corporate driven model and, now, nearly a decade later we are still waiting for a trade agreement that benefits American working families. 

The TPP fails to deal with the rampant currency manipulation by our competitors in Asia.  This market distorting trade practice leaves U.S. businesses and workers at a severe disadvantage and will continue the hemorrhaging of American manufacturing jobs, particularly to countries lacking fundamental labor rights, such as, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Mexico. 

Despite USTR's repeated rhetoric that this agreement reflects internationally labor standards, the TPP labor chapter contains the same ineffectual provisions as in other U.S. trade agreements.  The TPP fails to include the International Labor Organization Conventions which explicitly define basic labor rights.  We are dismayed that a country like Malaysia that has been cited for slavery would be permitted to be a signatory to the TPP.

Additionally, the Rules of Origin for autos are even weaker than the NAFTA standards that led to the exodus of parts production from the U.S.  As a result, autos produced in Japan could be assembled with the majority of the parts coming from China and imported to the U.S. market tariff free.  We have no reason to believe that the Rules of Origin standards are any better for other manufactured goods.

American working families continue to struggle with stagnate income growth while those at the top garner more of our Nation’s wealth.  For average Americans the TPP is just another example of a rigged economic system that makes daily life harder and harder and their children’s future more tenuous and uncertain.  Our corporate driven trade policy must be changed to benefit working families and we call upon Congress to begin that process by rejecting the TPP.

The IAM is one of the largest industrial trade unions in North America, representing more than 600,000 active and retired members in dozens of industries.

-30-

http://www.usw.org/news/media-center/releases/2016/united-steelworkers-usw-international-usw-tpp-another-bad-trade-deal-threatening-american-jobs-and-manufacturing 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                 CONTACT: Wayne Ranick: (412) 562-2444 February 3, 2016                                                                             wranick at usw.org <mailto:wranick at usw.org>
                                                                                                        Gary Hubbard: (202) 778-4384
                                                                                                         ghubbard at usw.org <mailto:ghubbard at usw.org>

USW: TPP Another Bad Trade Deal Threatening American Jobs and Manufacturing

(Pittsburgh) -- United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard issued the following statement regarding the signing of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) in New Zealand:

“Today’s signing of the Trans Pacific Partnership in New Zealand marks the beginning of the process for each of the 12 countries involved to ratify the deal, but it does nothing to alter the fact that this proposed agreement is seriously flawed and should be rejected.

“Here in the United States, we know that this agreement would further undermine American jobs and manufacturing. Whether lacking provisions to adequately address currency manipulation, labor standards and environmental degradation, to limit the anticompetitive actions of China’s state-owned entities, as well as domestic content standards in the automobile sector, the TPP would further shrink a working American middle class and perpetuate growing disparities in income and wealth.

“In the coming months, Americans from all across the country will be voicing their objections to public officials elected to represent their interests. They will make it perfectly clear that this proposed agreement is just like all the previous ones that have destroyed millions of family-supporting jobs, while shuttering plants and devastating communities. Corporate interests will be beating the drum to further this transfer of wealth from the American people to Wall Street and the pockets of corporate shareholders.

“Congress needs to listen to the American people whose interests they are elected to represent. If the legislation to implement the TPP is brought before them for a vote, it should be quickly and soundly defeated.

“It’s long past time for a new approach to trade. Our current policies are failing. We need a new approach that restores manufacturing as the engine of America’s economic growth and prosperity.” 

The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations. For more information: www.usw.org <http://www.usw.org/>

#  #  #

SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN
FLOOR SPEECH ON THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP FEBRUARY 2, 2016

***As prepared for delivery***

On Thursday, twelve countries will sign a massive trade agreement to change the rules for 40% of the world’s economy. But the Trans Pacific Partnership won’t go into effect unless Congress approves it. I urge my colleagues to reject the TPP and stop an agreement that would tilt the playing field even more in favor of big multinational corporations and against working families.

Much of the debate over this trade agreement has been described as a fight over America’s role in setting the rules of international trade. But this is a deliberate diversion. In fact, the United States already has free trade agreements with half of the TPP countries. Most of the TPP’s 30 chapters don’t even deal with traditional trade issues. No, most of the TPP is about letting multinational corporations rig the rules – on everything from patent protection to food safety standards – all to benefit themselves.

The first clue about who the TPP helps is who wrote it. Twenty-eight trade advisory committees were formed to whisper in the ear of our trade negotiators—to urge them to move this way or that in the negotiations. Who are the special, privileged whisperers? 85% are senior corporate executives or industry lobbyists. Many of the committees – including those on chemicals and pharmaceuticals, aerospace equipment, textiles and clothing, and financial services – are 100% industry representatives. In 15 advisory committees, no one—no one—was in the room who represented American workers or American consumers. No one was in the room who worried about the enforcement of environmental issues or protection against human rights abuses. Nope. Day after day, meeting after meeting, our official negotiators listened to the whispers of those giant industries—and heard little from anyone else.

The second clue about what’s going on is that it all happened behind closed doors. The US Trade Representative, Michael Froman, says the U.S. has been working to negotiate this trade deal for over five and a half years. 5 1⁄2 years. But the text of the agreement was hidden from public view until 3 months ago. And when I say hidden, I mean hidden: the drafts were kept under lock and key so that even members of the US Senate had to go to a secure location to see them—and then we weren’t allowed to say anything to anyone about what we had seen.

A rigged process produces a rigged outcome. When the people whispering in the ears of our negotiators are mostly top executives and lobbyists for the biggest corporations – and when the public is shut out of the negotiating process –the final deal tilts in favor of corporate interests.

Evidence of this tilt can be seen in a key TPP provision: Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). With ISDS, big companies get the right to challenge laws they don’t like, not in courts,

but in front of industry-friendly arbitration panels that sit outside of any court system. Those panels can force taxpayers to write huge checks to big corporations—with no appeals. Workers, environmentalists, and human rights advocates don’t get that special right; only corporations do.

Most Americans don’t think of keeping dangerous pesticides out of our food or keeping our drinking water clean as trade issues. But all over the globe, companies have used ISDS to demand compensation for laws they don’t like. Just last year, a mining company won an ISDS case when Canada denied the company permits to blast off the coast of Nova Scotia. Now, Canadian taxpayers are on the hook for up to $300 million – all because their government tried to protect its environment and the livelihood of its local fishermen.

And ISDS hasn’t been a problem just for other countries. We’ve seen the dangers of ISDS here at home. Last year, the U.S. State Department concluded, and President Obama agreed, that the Keystone XL pipeline would

The nation’s top experts in law and economics have warned us about the dangers of ISDS. Nobel Prize-winning economist Joe Stiglitz, Harvard Law Professor Laurence Tribe, and others recently noted that if ISDS panels force countries to pay high enough fines, the countries will “voluntarily” drop the health, safety, labor and environmental laws that big corporations don’t like. That was exactly what Germany did in 2011 when they cut back on environmental regulations after an ISDS lawsuit.

Everyone understands the risks of ISDS. In fact, the issue got so hot over tobacco companies using ISDS to roll back health standards around the world, that the TPP negotiators decided to limit the use of ISDS to challenge tobacco laws. That’s a bald admission that ISDS can be used to weaken public health laws. I’m glad tobacco laws are protected from ISDS, but what about food safety laws, or drug safety laws, or any other regulation designed to protect our

citizens? Under TPP, every other company—regardless of the health or safety impact—will be able to use ISDS.

Congress will have to vote straight up or down on TPP. We won’t have a chance to strip out any of the worst provisions, like ISDS. That’s why I oppose the TPP and hope Congress will use its constitutional authority to stop this deal before it makes things even worse—and more dangerous—for America’s hard-working families. 

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