Press Release – Citizens Trade Campaign
Supporter, with this week’s announcement that Canada and Mexico are formally joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the proposed pact now officially dwarfs NAFTA in size and scope. We can’t afford a “NAFTA of the Pacific.” Please take action … Supporter, with this week’s announcement that Canada and Mexico are formally joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the proposed pact now officially dwarfs NAFTA in size and scope. We can’t afford a “NAFTA of the Pacific.” Please take action now to ensure that there is public and Congressional oversight. Thanks! — Arthur . Urge Congress to Demand Transparency in the TPP Dear Friend:
Despite having received over 42,000 petition signatures urging transparency in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Agreement negotiations, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk continues to refuse to tell the American people what he’s been proposing in our names. His office has granted approximately 600 corporate lobbyists special “cleared advisor” status that allows them to comment on negotiating texts — but you and I and even many Members of Congress have been barred from seeing them. With the U.S. Trade Representative refusing to listen to reason, it’s time for our elected officials to step in. Please contact your Member of Congress online now, urging them to demand greater transparency and Congressional oversight in the TPP negotiations.
Why is transparency so important? The TPP is poised to become the largest free trade agreement ever. The massive trade and investment pact is currently being negotiated behind-closed-doors between the United States and countries throughout the Pacific Rim, and is specifically intended as a “docking agreement” that as many as half the nations of the world could join over time.
With almost zero public oversight, powerful corporate interests have been pushing for the TPP to: • Offshore good-paying jobs to low-wage nations and undercut working conditions globally • Create new tools for attacking environmental and consumer safety standards • Expand the deregulation of banks, hedge funds and insurance companies • Further concentrate global food supplies, displacing family farmers and subjecting consumers to wild price fluctuations • Institute longer patents that restrict access to affordable, generic medications We cannot afford for the TPP to be negotiated in the shadows any longer. Please contact your Member of Congress now, and urge them to sign a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative that’s being circulated by Congressman George Miller and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro.
The Miller/DeLauro letter points out the precedents for draft trade negotiating texts being shared with the public; expresses strong concern about needless secrecy and over-classification in the TPP; and demands greater information-sharing with the public and the U.S. Congress.
The thirteenth major round of TPP negotiations — and perhaps one of the last — is taking place in San Diego from July 2 to 10. Please help us drag the TPP out of the shadows by taking action now.
Many thanks,
Arthur Stamoulis, Executive Director CITIZENS TRADE CAMPAIGN
ENDS
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