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TTIP / TAFTA |OT| - Grave Threat to our Democratic and Consumer Rights

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A

anonymous_abc

Member
If you were against ACTA you will likely want to be against TTIP/TAFTA.

TTIP, the US/EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (called TAFTA – Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement in the US)
is a ‘free trade’ agreement between two of the biggest economies in the world.

->Watch Me<-
Video Talk and Diskussion from re:publica with Glyn Moody explaining the basic principles and problems of TTIP
YouTube

So what are (some of) the problems?

PePRbyOs.png

Transparency
As has always been the case in the past the discussions are being held behind closed doors. Even parliamentarians have no
access to them. This is not something that belongs into the 21st century, and considering the NSA probably listens in to all the
discussions anyway the only ones not in the know are the democratically elected parliamentarians and the general population.
The European Commission is currently trying to find ways to bypass national parliaments by not requiring their agreement on the matter.

Mvyw0YXs.png

Competition
One of the main aims of the TTIP agreement is increasing competition. All other aspects of our lives have been reduced to nice
to haves, not important and irrelevant. Social and environmental standards are being dropped and neglected in order to improve
competition. People can go and suck it up as long as big multinationals can make their money.

E8zIQIMs.png

Public Services
Public services are to be liberalised. Everything will be put on the scale and only judged by cost and rentability. Proposals for
public assignments will only be allowed to take money into consideration, taking metrics such social and environmental impact
into account will become de facto illegal.

eZjlcrms.png

Lawsuits
Investor-State Dispute Settlements (a whole can of worms in itself) will become even more prevalent than they are already.
ISDS will allow transnational corporations to sue governments for any loss of future profits resulting from any government action,
such as the introduction of new laws to protect the public or the environment.
As a past example Uruguay implemented smoking bans and other health protection measures against tobacco. Phillip
Morris was then able to sue them for loss of future income. This undermines democracy at its core as parliaments are
not accountable to their electorate but big transnational corporations.

RrzSebfs.png

Agribusiness
As we all know the US and the EU have vastly different consumer protection standards. TTIP aims to harmonise these.
What might sound good if the US adopted EU standards, that is not going to happen and even if it did, it would pretty
much nail the current status quo for the forceable future. The EU would no longer be able to one sidedly increase its
standards in all manner of areas. And no one can seriously say we have reached the end of the road on consumer,
environment, animal welfare protection and such. We want to continue to improve these not set them in stone as they are.

FCk1vQ7s.png

Lobbying
The big corporations and lobbies have a huge influence on the whole agreement they are the ones who are first and foremost
heard on the matter, as 'they are the ones directly influenced' ignoring the fact that everyone will be directly influenced. The
whole setup is such that it is near impossible for NGOs and the general population to have their voices heard.

OlCXpJns.png

Energy
The controversial gas drilling technique of hydraulic fracturing which is seen very sceptically all over Europe would become
more economically viable for US energy companies as they could easily sell their gas to Europe for three times the price
they achieve in their domestic market.

Uez4itxs.png

Copyright
Copyright already has a high protection standard across both the US and the EU. TTIP would lead to massive extension of
protection on such things as medical research, and patented seeds. Things that the entire society would benefit from if it
where more freely available.


Get informed and spread the word.


In recent news.
300 peaceful protesters in Brussels were arrested and held without charge for many hours
A Belgian MP arrested yesterday for protesting against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has told
IBTimes UK that the police were in breach of the Belgian Constitution in making the arrest.
Click to expand...
International Business Times

tl;dr: Big business is trying to screw you over, as usual. But it's serious!
Campact said:
The proposed free-trade agreement “TTIP” between the EU and the USA serves the interests of corporations and not of citizens:
  • TTIP undermines democracy and the rule of law : The agreement allows foreign corporations to sue countries for high
    compensation in secretive, arbitration proceedings when countries pass laws that could reduce the profits.
  • TTIP opens the door to privatization : The agreement will make it easier for corporations to earn profits from the public water
    supply and health and education systems, all at the public’s expense.
  • TTIP endangers our health : Practices that are legally allowed in the U.S. would legally be permitted in the EU. This clears the
    way for fracking , genetically-modified food production, and hormone-treated cattle. The agreement weakens the peasant and
    family-farming agriculture and grants the agricultural industry even more power.
  • TTIP undermines freedom : The agreement opens the way for even more monitoring and surveillance of internet users. Excessive
    copyright regulations restrict free access to culture, education, and science.
  • TTIP is practically irreversible : Once agreed upon , the contracts for elected politicians are essentially no longer am mendable
    as every change requires agreement by all parties. Germany could not unilaterally decide to withdraw from the contract , as it is
    the EU, and not Germany, who signs enters into the agreement.
Click to expand...
 
A

anonymous_abc

Member
From BBC News

One study for the European Union estimated a deal would generate more than 500 euros (£407) of additional income for a normal household in Europe.

And it suggested there would be additional economic output of 120bn euros across the EU. That in turn would mean millions of new jobs, he says.

'Major risk'
However, critics say these gains are exaggerated.

Olivier Hoedeman of Corporate Europe Observatory, a Brussels-based group which monitors business lobbying in the EU, says the 500-euro-per-family figure is based on what he calls the most extreme scenario if you harmonise all legislation and regulations.

Even then, he says, you would achieve that kind of growth in 25 years from now.

One critical assessment of the European Commission's figures by an Austrian research agency described the possible benefits as "very small".
Click to expand...

Olivier Hoedeman also criticises the drive to reduce regulatory barriers to trade.

Differences between the US and the EU in that area, he says "are the result of a democratic debate about what kind of environmental legislation, what kind of consumer protection we want".

Critics argue only big businesses will benefit in any deal
He says there is a major risk that the negotiations will result in lower standards in these areas.

One example where he has concerns is genetically modified food. He says business wants to see European restrictions relaxed.
Click to expand...

NHS concerns
Marcus Beyrer of Business Europe says it is not about limiting the sovereignty of governments but about defending companies against discrimination and what he calls "discriminatory expropriation".

It also about getting compensation, he says, if governments do break international law or discriminate.

Yet critics of such a transatlantic deal say that there's a particular issue about TTIP's potential impact on the British National Health Service.

The argument is that the arbitration and compensation provisions in the TTIP would make it much more difficult to reverse any moves towards getting private contractors involved in the NHS - because international companies might be able to sue if their profits were affected.
Click to expand...

Finally, there is quite a battle about the transparency of these negotiations. Critics say they have all been far too secretive.

The European Commission says you need a certain degree of confidentiality, "otherwise it would be like showing the other player one's cards in a card game".
Click to expand...
Loud laughter was heard at the NSA and the Whitehouse...
 
A

anonymous_abc

Member
cartesian said:
Those of you planning to vote in tomorrow's elections may be interested to know that the European Commission is currently holding a public consultation on the most alarming aspects of the proposed EU-US economic treaty.

For those of you who are unaware, TTIP ("Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership") is a somewhat obscure proposal that has significant implications for every citizen of the United States and the European Union.

TTIP aims to establish a EU-US free trade area, reducing tariffs and harmonising regulations between two of the largest economies on Earth. This alone would make it a historic document. However, to encourage foreign investors, TTIP also significantly increases the power of corporations over national governments:

TTIP potentially amounts to a very significant restriction on the ability of our national governments to regulate markets and provide public ownership of public services, even if there is a clear democratic mandate for doing so. Provisions on "indirect expropriation" will entitle American corporations to "compensation with compound interest" if any EU national government introduces any regulation that significantly reduces their profits.

There is no escape. Even if the treaty is later terminated, Article 17 means that those provisions which entitle corporations to sue governments will remain legally-binding on governments for at least 20 years after TTIP is cancelled:

For better or for worse, TTIP will be a game-changer. It is important that it benefits from public scrutiny.

In the interests of balance, it should be noted that many modern trade agreements include provisions that entitle private firms to seek redress against government discrimination. The European Commissions notes that EU businesses are the most prolific users of such provisions. However, the historic scale of this agreement, and the scope of the provisions included, do make this an extraordinary document. I believe that, in the name of encouraging investment, the pendulum has swung too far in the favour of multinational corporations against democratic governments.

The European Commission's public consultation - launched as a response to the leaking of the draft agreement - offers a rare opportunity for members of the public to have their say in what is usually a very secretive process. The US is not holding a public consultation. The EU public consultation closes in about two weeks.

I would urge every EU citizen reading this thread to consider submitting a brief response to the EU public consultation on TTIP.

You can reply to the public consultation on TTIP here.
Click to expand...

Quoting from the EP election thread.
 
D

Durante

Member
I only learned about this today, due to reporting about protests.

And that's really scary. The whole idea that an agreement like this, which has nations' rights and sovereignty basically overridden by corporations, can be devised in secret and almost put into action without most of the people concerned knowing about it is preposterous. The most obscene part is the whole idea of "Investor-State Dispute Settlements". It basically makes a laughingstock of the very principles of democracy.

Anyway, it's abhorrent, and while the OP is great I do think this issue deserves a bit more spotlight than 4 posts.
 
D

Durante

Member
FliXFantatier said:
Don't blame me, I tried. :p
Click to expand...
You did a great job.

I guess the issue of losing sovereignty to and giving up constitutional democracy for multinational corporations isn't sexy enough as a news bullet point. Well, at least that means we'll probably get to the cyberpunk dystopia I like reading about sooner or later! :p
 
B

bonercop

Member
Durante said:
I only learned about this today, due to reporting about protests.

And that's really scary. The whole idea that an agreement like this, which has nations' rights and sovereignty basically overridden by corporations, can be devised in secret and almost put into action without most of the people concerned knowing about it is preposterous. The most obscene part is the whole idea of "Investor-State Dispute Settlements". It basically makes a laughingstock of the very principles of democracy.

Anyway, it's abhorrent, and while the OP is great I do think this issue deserves a bit more spotlight than 4 posts.
Click to expand...

That bit about the ISDS? been out there for years. There has been virtually zero coverage of this ridiculous deal, for the longest time. the only way to learn about this has been through grassroots activists.

It really demonstrated to me how worthless and subservient mainstream media outlets are.
 
E

Espada

Member
This is insane. How the hell is this not being fought against at every step? Clandestine deals by people who have not been elected that become nigh-irreversible once enacted? All for the sake of goddamn profit?

Just that little bit about companies being able to sue goddamn countries for instituting laws that would hurt their profit margins is insane. Talk about undermining democracy.
 
D

Durante

Member
bonercop said:
That bit about the ISDS? been out there for years. There has been virtually zero coverage of this ridiculous deal, for the longest time. the only way to learn about this has been through grassroots activists.

It really demonstrated to me how worthless and subservient mainstream media outlets are.
Click to expand...
Yeah, as I said, that's really the scariest part. I admittedly don't follow politics as much as I used to, but the fact that something of this magnitude almost slipped by me completely were it not for the protests today is insane.
 
K

KDR_11k

Member
It's in the headlines all the time around here.

The European Green party's April Fools joke was "the commission has listened to the people and cancelled TTIP".
 
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