The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) is the largest trade agreement since the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the United States has been engaged in discussion with eight Pacific nations to come to an agreement on the terms of the TPP. It is a free trade contract that would allow for a more open system of exchange between the United States and less developed nations, apparently, and it has been wrapped in secrecy since discussions began within the Bush administration in 2005.
This is one of many examples of global
economic/political partnerships and deals that are happening behind the
back of the public eye.
Below is a video of Robert Reich, an
American political economist and professor who served in the
administrations of Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, talking
about the deal. He was also Secretary of Labor under President Bill
Clinton from 1993 to 1997.
The TPP is not really “secret,” but it sure does seem that way, which is why I chose to raise awareness about it here.
Why is it wrapped in secrecy? Because
it’s not really about trade. The agreement has 29 chapters, and only
five of them have to do with trade. The other 24 chapters either put
restrictions on domestic governments, limit food safety, diminish
environmental standards and personal privacy, or otherwise deal with
financial regulation, energy, climate policy, and more. As illustrated
in the video above, it’s basically an agreement for establishing new and
enhanced powers for the multinational corporations that seem to own all
of the world’s resources. It will affect all the industries we choose
to allow to govern our planet and the way that we live.
