Lobbyists wrote global trade deal

When they tell you that nobody knew what was in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, it’s only true for Congress and us. There were over 400 lobbyist from major corporations who knew what was in it, because they helped write it — over 6,000 pages. Congress was not allowed to see it until this year. They could only view it, with no pens, paper or recorders allowed. They were not allowed to discuss any details amongst themselves. Last month Congress was asked to vote for “fast track” (TPA) on this trade deal, meaning when the TPP came up for a vote, there would be no amendment allowed and only two minutes for each congressman to debate it. They would have to vote yes or no.

Congress did vote yes for “fast track” and the president signed it. This trade deal will supersede your sovereign laws, for example: A company suing a state for labeling genetic foods, claiming the sovereign law takes away their future profits for selling their product. They will claim a trade barrier (investor-state dispute settlement) in a court that is set up in a foreign land with judges selected by the industries and governments of the TPP. The state will lose and have to pay. It could cost millions of our tax dollars. Does this sound anything like democracy? A good discussion about this comes from Global Trade Watch &Democracy Now Nov. 6 video (9 ½ minutes in.) There is also a transcript at www.democracynow.org/2015/11/6/full_text_of_tpp_trade_deal

Patrick Rainsberger

Snohomish