Trade pact undermines U.S. sovereignty

Posted 8/21/12

Buying local and U.S. products helps our farmers, our workers, and transport costs. How would you like being told that buying local is no longer a choice?

We enjoy laws in this country that …

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Trade pact undermines U.S. sovereignty

Posted

Buying local and U.S. products helps our farmers, our workers, and transport costs. How would you like being told that buying local is no longer a choice?

We enjoy laws in this country that protect the quality of our food, water and air. How would you like being told that our laws are no longer in effect because they are getting in the way of expected future profits of a foreign corporation? We are close to these realities. The Trans Pacific Partnership treaty (TPP) is being negotiated mostly in secret among about 40 countries around the world, with intimate involvement by about 600 corporate leaders. This treaty would allow corporations to challenge domestic laws that could adversely affect said corporation’s “expected future profits,” before international tribunals. The tribunal could require compensation to corporations by that country’s taxpayers.

Under TPP, foreign corporations must have equal access to compete for federal government contracts, eviscerating the “buy local” or “buy American” movement. This could include companies with terrible human rights records.

Pharmaceutical companies are working to ensure that the TPP includes extensions of patents for prescription drugs, resulting in maintaining artificially high drug prices. This would reduce accessibility to lower-cost drugs for millions of people around the world. The White House is asking Congress for “fast-track authority” to sign this treaty without amendment ability by Congress.

Because TPP is designed to protect the interests of the largest multi-national corporations at the expense of workers, consumers, the environment and the sovereignty of participating nations, we must not let this be decided by fast-track authority.

For more information, visit www.citizen.org/TPP. Please call your members of Congress now to tell them you are against TPP and fast-track authority, circumventing the power of Congress to debate or amend the treaty. The switchboard number is 202/224-3121.

Katharine Dodge

Lake Ariel PA

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