Labor unions rally at Grant Park

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Admin2

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Hundreds of Chicago-area labor leaders and activists gathered in Grant Park Monday to rally and march for more jobs.

Organizers said they want to ”prevent a new NAFTA.”

Chicago labor unions say a looming free trade agreement, the “Trans Pacific Partnership,” will lead to the loss of good-paying U.S. jobs. They compare it to NAFTA.

The Labor Day rally took place just one day before international trade representatives from Australia, Chile, Peru, Brunei, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam arrive in Chicago to negotiate the agreement. It’s their eighth round of talks.

“We’re not going to put up with another trade deal that offers jobs, that reduces tax revenue, that drives down the wages and benefits of the jobs that are left. Too many past trade deals have benefited Wall Street and big business at the expensive of working people in Chicago,” said Arthur Stamoulis, Citizens Trade Campaign.
Read the full report

 
Source ABC 7

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US pushing for crack-down on SOEs in trade talks

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Admin2

The United States is pushing to outlaw government support for SOEs and other state-backed companies in the latest round of talks for an already controversial trade agreement covering the Pacific Rim.  Morning Report 3′40″

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Organised Labour’s position on the TPPA

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Admin2


Labor declaration on the negotiation of the trans-pacific partnership trade agreement

Unions affiliated to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) are not opposed in principle to trade agreements. They maintain however, that the TPPA will not have their support unless it is well balanced, foments the creation of good jobs, protects the rights and interests of working people, leads to long-term, balanced economic development and promotes a healthy environment. Get the detail from the download below.

Download

 

Download the Labor Declaration

 

 

A new model Labour & Dispute resolution Chapter for the Asia-pacific region

The proposal (downloadable below) is based, in part, on the labour and dispute resolution chapters of the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA), two of the Parties to the current negotiations. All proposed amendments and additions to those chapters are set forth herein. Where no change is indicated, the relevant provisions of the U.S.-Peru FTA should be inserted.

Download

 

Download the New Model Labour & Dispute Resolution Chapter

 

Visit the ITUC Homepage

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Human Rights Commission rejection of Trans-Pacific Partnership audit latest blow to democratic process

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Admin2

The New Zealand Human Rights Commission has declined a request for a scoping study on the human rights implications of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), saying it doesn’t have the resources.

‘The Commission’s response is hugely disappointing’, said Professor Kelsey, who asked the Commission to conduct a preliminary inquiry with a view to a fuller audit along the lines of inquiries conducted elsewhere.

She is presenting the argument for such audits at this week’s ‘stakeholder’ event at the Chicago round of TPPA negotiations that begin on Tuesday.

The request was supported by a detailed report that documents the views of international agencies that free trade and investment agreements frequently violate states’ national and international obligations.

This rejection follows the government’s move to block a hearing by the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade select committee into the TPPA’s implications that was backed by Labour and the Greens.

One key element of the human rights concerns is people’s right to participate effectively in public affairs.

Human Rights Commission lacks resources study on the human rights implications of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

‘We are facing a brick wall, with no government agency prepared to bring daylight to bear on these secret negotiations.’

‘The parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and trade lacks the political will to examine the TPPA’s implications.’

‘The Human Rights Commission doesn’t have the resources to do so.’

‘The government has treated with disdain a letter signed by over 800 people and a broad-ranging petition from groups that represent hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders.

It refuses to disclose any meaningful information about the negotiations and the Official Information Act allows them to do so.

‘New Zealand is not the only country where lack of transparency is a problem. It will be a major issue at the stakeholder presentations and external events in Chicago this week. This pressure will continue until democratic principles are brought to bear on these negotiations’, Professor Kelsey said.

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Trading away public health? Health issues in the TPPA

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Admin2

AFTINET and the Public Health Association of Australia have just released a new community education leaflet on Health issues in the TPPA as they will impact on the Australian social policies.

Below we’ve reproduced the media release announcing the release of the leaflet and, at the bottom, links to download the leaflet itself and the accompanying background material.

MEDIA RELEASE 1 September 2011

Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement proposals increase corporate rights, reduce  access to affordable medicines, say public health and fair trade  groups

“Leaked US proposals in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) being negotiated by Australia, the US, New Zealand, and six other countries would increase the rights of pharmaceutical companies to charge higher prices for  medicines for  longer, and  reduce the  rights of  consumers to  have  access to  affordable medicines. These proposals are to be debated at the TPPA negotiations next week in Chicago”, said Dr Deborah Gleeson of the Public Health Association of Australia.

“US pharmaceutical companies have lobbied the US government to propose even more changes than were conceded in the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement in 2004,” explained Dr Gleeson. “The table (downloadable below) compiled by US and Australian intellectual property law experts give details of the impact the proposals would have on Australian law”.

“Pharmaceutical companies  already  have  rights  under  current  patent  law  to  charge  monopoly  prices  for medicines for 20 years. Extensions of patent periods and delays in the marketing of cheaper generic drugs benefit these companies, but disadvantage consumers, and would increase the cost of medicines to the public health system,” said Dr Patricia Ranald of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network .

Dr Ranald explained that the US proposals include:

  • Lowering Australian standards to allow more patents which make only slight changes to  an existing medicine, thus enabling the repeated extension or “ever-greening” of patents
  • Removal of public rights to object to new patents before they are granted, which would make it easier for unjustified patents to be granted
  • Removal of current Australian flexibility to disallow the patenting of medical procedures, which could impose huge future costs on hospitals

The pharmaceutical companies are also lobbying for extension of periods of data exclusivity which would delay generic drugs, including data exclusivity for  biological drugs for  12 years, and elimination of  Australian safeguards against patent abuse and “ever-greening” which Parliament inserted at the time of the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement in 2004.

“The 2010 Productivity Commission Report on Bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements found that expansion of patent rights under the Australia-US Free Trade agreement has already caused economic losses because Australia is a net importer of patented goods,” added Dr Ranald.

“The Australian Government trade policy announced in  April 2011 accepted the recommendations of the Productivity Commission report not to expand patent rights. The Government should not support the US proposals, which are against the interests of consumers and would increase costs for our health system. Such changes would be even more disastrous for developing countries, making many medicines simply unaffordable. Australia should make alternative proposals for an agreement that promotes health and protects access to essential medicines in the region,” said Dr Gleeson.

Download

 

 

Don’t Trade Away Health

 

 

 

 

 

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Download

 

Dangers for Access to Medicines in the TPPA

Comparative Analysis of the U.S. Intellectual Property Proposal and Australian Law

 

 

 

 

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What’s in the Dog?

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Admin2

 

The latest of Foreign Control Watchdog, issue #127, has just been released and carries four articles on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement all of which can be viewed and/or downloaded here.

 

 

 

by Jane Kelsey

by Dr Viola Palmer

by Bill Rosenberg

by Murray Horton

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Government Blocks Parliamentary Hearing on Trans-Pacific Partnership

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Admin2

The National-led government has blocked a request for a select committee hearing on the implications of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

Helen Kelly, action; ‘reinforces widespread criticism that the government is not allowing ... informed public scrutiny’

The request was made in a parliamentary petition signed on behalf of 13 organisations that collectively represent hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders.

The groups include the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and individual unions, Oxfam, the NZ Public Health Association, NZ Society of Authors, ICT group NZ Rise, and the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa.

The Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade select committee only agreed that the first signatory, NZCTU President Helen Kelly, could present additional written information.

‘This hearing would have been an opportunity for those who support the agreement to make their case and for those with concerns to be heard before the negotiations proceed any further’ said Robert Reid, who signed the petition on behalf of the National Distribution Union.

‘Once again our members and the people of New Zealand are being denied any say into a trade agreement that is being negotiated in their name’.

‘We wanted to explain to the select committee why we oppose the TPPA. Free trade brings no benefits to our members and this one will strengthen the hands of foreign investors at the expense of New Zealand manufacturing and services firms.’

Contact the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Select Committee Members

Robert Reid urged the government to refocus its priorities and develop a real economic strategy to address the economic stagnation and growing jobs crisis.

NZCTU President Helen Kelly expressed concern that the select committee’s action ‘reinforces widespread criticism that the government is not allowing this hugely important agreement to informed public scrutiny before the deal is signed and sealed.’

‘We have many concerns about the effects of the proposed agreement, including on the cost of health care and public health such as tobacco control, development of well paid jobs through use of government buying power to favour local firms, and the powers it gives to overseas investors to sue the government’.

Tony Simpson: 'giving up the autonomy and integrity of our economy, our society and our culture'

New Zealand Society of Authors President Tony Simpson recalled that ‘fifteen years ago an attempt was made to introduce the Multilateral Agreement on Investment but this was withdrawn following widespread international condemnation. Now, 15 years down the track the proponents of the MAI are having a second go on a piecemeal and regional basis through the TPPA. It is no more acceptable this time around’.

Tony Simpson warned that ‘If we accede to this we will be giving up the autonomy and integrity of our economy, our society and our culture to no discernible immediate or longer term advantage’. ‘Why would we do such a thing?  We wouldn’t, which is why those pursuing it within our government have largely conducted their work in secret’.

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USNZ Council Gives False Comfort on Tobacco Controls & Investment Rules

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Admin2

“The USNZ Council has tried to play down the risks of investment agreements to New Zealand’s regulatory options on tobacco control, but ignores three crucial issues”, said Professor Jane Kelsey from Auckland University.

False Comfort: USNZ Council ignores three crucial issues

The Council’s press release points to the exception in bilateral investment treaty between New Zealand and Hong Kong protects any measures taken to protect public health provided they are not ‘a means of arbitrary or unjustified discrimination’.

‘But companies like Philip Morris are not concerned about the legal outcomes of a dispute’, said Professor Kelsey.

‘Tobacco giants have bottomless coffers when it comes to bringing harassment and intimidation cases against governments that propose policies and regulations that aim of reducing tobacco consumption.’

‘The extent of “chilling effect” is impossible to verify, because these pressures and decisions usually take place behind closed doors. It is known that Canada backed off tobacco controls laws in 1995 in the face of a threatened dispute by another US tobacco firm under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).’

A second, related concern is the demonstration effect that these disputes are intended to have on other countries as they consider introducing anti-smoking laws.

‘There is a growing list of these cases. Philip Morris has challenged tobacco display bans in Ireland and Norway under EU trade rules and last year launched a suit against Uruguay’s new tobacco control laws. These are clearly intended to send a message to other countries.’

Challenges to tobacco display legislation: “There is a growing list of these cases”

Professor Kelsey further noted that New Zealand has investment obligations with other countries that Philip Morris could use in the same backdoor way they are using the Australia-Hong King and Uruguay-Switzerland agreements. Some of these treaties, such as the free trade agreement with China, give additional guarantees of ‘minimum standards of treatment’ that are the basis of many recent investment disputes, and have exceptions that are more open to contest.

As a final point, Professor Kelsey pointed out that British American Tobacco has argued for similar investor rights through the ACT-sponsored Regulatory Responsibility Bill, a version of which the Regulatory Standards Bill is now before a parliamentary select committee.

‘These companies are actively seeking out a range of legal avenues where they can protect their right to sell toxic products and restrict government moves to rein them in, including the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. The US NZ Council should not be pleading their cause.’

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TPPA represents the great New Zealand sell-out

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Admin2

A well attended meeting, held last Wendesday night in Wellington, was told that the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) equated to the ‘great New Zealand sell-out”

Jane Kelsey speaking at Wednesdays Forum

The 130+  people attending the forum, hosted by the Wellington based TPPA Action Group,  heard Jane Kelsey (University of Auckland) (2), Des O’Dea (University of Otago) (3) and Thomas Beagle (Tech Liberty) outline the dangers of the proposed deal currently under negotiation.

Mary Ellen O’Connor of the Action Group told media that MFAT and the Government should take note: people do not want the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. “The TPP is not about ‘free trade.’  It’s about ripping the country open to multinational companies,” said Mary Ellen “it represents the great New Zealand sell-out”

“We do not want to see negative effects on public health, on our liberties on the internet, on sovereignty, on our ability to limit the harms of mining companies and cigarette companies” said Ms O’Connor “The TPP is a significant threat to New Zealand that would allow multi-national companies the right to challenge government decisions.  This is already happening in Australia with Philip Morris challenging the Australian government’s decision to have brand free packing for cigarettes.

“The fiasco over The Hobbit, and the Copyright Bill, would be just a taste of what is to come if the government goes ahead with the TPPA.”

Part of the 130 plus crowd at the Forum

In the Wellington area and want to get active?

Contact the TPPA Action Group,

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Latest Free Trade Informer out now

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Admin2

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The July issue of the Free Trade Informer is available to download

 

 

Petition Extended

The ‘Statement of Sovereignty’ Petition was originally going to close on July 4th, but it’s built up so much momentum, over the last 2 weeks, as more and more of the disastrous implications of the TPPA are making themselves obvious it seemed a shame to stop it now.

The new cutoff date ( which won’t be extended again) is November 1st.

So please sign it now (if you haven’t already done so).

And if you’ve got a hard copy of it, please post it to New Zealand Not For Sale Campaign, Box 2258, Christchurch 8140.

We urge you to circulate and publicise the petition, online and hard copy, through your organisations and networks.

The Statement of Sovereignty can be downloaded here

The Statement of Sovereignty can be signed online here

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