Release of Pacific trade text opens fight for ratification

A month after the end of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, the full text of the agreement has finally been released – including specific details on rules of origin and short supply lists for textiles and apparel.

Mr Robb said the government is well aware of “areas of sensitivity”, such as environmental protection, intellectual property rights and the ability for foreign investors to sue host governments. The text details plans for handling of trade of all types of materials including live eels. Release this week would extend the period the text is available for public scrutiny before signing.

The documents show the pact reached October 5 in Atlanta after several years of talks is chock-full of good intentions. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) remains extremely concerned about the inclusion of unsafe provisions that would dismantle public health safeguards enshrined in worldwide law and restrict access to price-lowering generic medicines for millions of people.

It also emphasizes the intention of the trading bloc to abide by earlier commitments made under the World Trade Organization and other worldwide treaties.

“It…will reward countries that support sweatshops and abusive working conditions, at the same time putting even more American jobs at risk”, she said.

A few pro-trade Republican lawmakers are also wary of the deal, heralding a tough fight to get the deal through Congress. Republican White House contender Donald Trump has labeled it a “disaster”. They must simply vote yes or no. Congress is likely to take up the issue next year. The TPP is a continuation of our disastrous trade policies that have devastated manufacturing cities and towns all over this country from Newton, Iowa, to Cleveland, Ohio.

The 12 countries have three years to ratify the agreement.

But Obama faces fierce resistance to the deal from within his own party, and Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton opposes it. “Other countries, such as China, are already moving forward with deals that don’t reflect our interests and our values”.

A longtime advocate of breaking down trade barriers, Hatch has championed efforts to enhance America’s global competitiveness and increase access for American farmers, workers and job-creators in worldwide markets.

The member countries of the TPP account for a few 40% of the global economy and include Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.