CD052: The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a secret international treaty designed to give corporations power over governments; it is labeled as a "free trade agreement". The TPP will likely allow corporate control of the Internet, endanger food safety, increase medicine costs, remove environmental laws, prohibit financial regulations, and almost certainly would force the United States to give tax money to private corporations if our democracy creates laws that interfere with corporate profits. The Obama administration aims to have it signed into law by the end of 2013. *Full text of draft Intellectual Property Chapter (text as of August 30, 2013), released by Wikileaks on November 13, 2013. Sources of Clips Presented in This Episode YouTube Video: "The Top Secret Deal Between 11 Countries That Will Affect Your Lives" by Lee Camp, episode #186 of the Moment of Clarity series, November 14, 2012. Lee Camp is an angry comedian who has blessed the world with his 5 minute Moment of Clarity videos, which tackle all the horrible problems of the world with justified anger, passion, and lots of laughs. Check him out. The link above his to his episode on the Trans Pacific Partnership. YouTube Video: "Conversations with Great Minds: Lori Wallach on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, part 1" by Thom Hartmann, RT: The Big Picture, July 16, 2012. Provides the history of Global Trade Watch and Lori Wallach's interest in trade agreements. Examples of American laws being circumvented with trade agreements, including the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). YouTube Video: "Conversations with Great Minds: Lori Wallach on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, part 2" by Thom Hartmann, RT: The Big Picture, July 16, 2012. Details from the leaked chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. What is the difference between a treaty and an agreement? A treaty must be agreed to by 2/3 of the Senate; an agreement only needs a simple majority. The Trans-Pacific Partnership will create tribunals that will allow corporations to sue governments if the governments enact laws that interfere with corporate profits. Video with transcript: "A Corporate Trojan Horse: Obama Pushes Secretive TPP Trade Pact, Would Rewrite Swath of U.S. Laws" by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzales, Democracy Now!, October 4, 2013. Interview with Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch. Details from the leaked chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. What is "fast track"? Basically, fast tracking the TPP would involve Congress handing their power to approve treaties to the Executive Branch and would essentially eliminate any public role in trade negotiations. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="175"] Michael Froman, U.S. Trade Representative, sounds like Dick Cheney, dead inside[/caption] Video with transcript: "Obama-Backed Trans Pacific Partnership Expands Corporate Lawsuits Against Nations for Lost Profits" by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzales, Democracy Now!, June 6, 2013. Details on the tribunal system that will allow corporations to sue governments for lost profits. Sound clip of Michael Froman, the United States Trade Representative who is negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership on behalf of the United States. Video with transcript: "Breaking '08 Pledge, Leaked Trade Doc Shows Obama Wants to Help Corporations Avoid Regulations" by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzales, Democracy Now!, June 14, 2012. Interview with Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch. An agreement was made to publish the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership four years after completion. Sound clip of a corporate tool giving former U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk a fake award for pushing the TPP, which the corporate tool says will provide companies with expanded profits despite what the citizens think. Video with transcript: "Trans Pacific Partnership Could Damage Australia" by Kerry Brewster, Lateline, October 10, 2013. Australian news segment highlighting the Trans-Pacific Partnerships dangers to Australian citizens. Canada is being sued for their fracking moratorium. TPP would extend the length of pharmaceutical patents, thereby delaying cheaper generics. Music In this Episode Intro and Exit Music: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio) YouTube Video: "TPP = Corporate Power Tool of the 1%" by Public Citizen, May 7, 2012. YouTube Video: "Stop the TPP (English Version)" by Jeremy Malcolm, September 30, 2013. Links to Additional Information About the Trans Pacific Partnership PDF: The leaked chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Public Citizen's Trans Pacific Partnership Information Website Simply the best resource available for finding information on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Upcoming TPP Meetings, Office of the United States Trade Representative website. A Pacific Trade Deal by The Editorial Board of the New York Times, November 5, 2013. An endorsement of the Trans-Pacific Partnership YouTube video: "Secretary Clinton on Delivering on the Promise of Economic Statecraft" by the US State Department, November 17, 2012. Hillary Clinton gives a speech to promote the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Financial Industry Paid Millions to Obama Aide by Jeff Zeleny, New York Times, April 3, 2009 Michael Froman, now the United States Trade Representative, used to work at Citigroup and was paid at least $7.4 million. 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