PHM-Exch> [PHM News] Free Trade, what is at stake? More on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership - TTIP

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: PHM Global Secretariat <globalsecretariat at phmovement.org>


Dozens of activists from across Europe gathered in Brussels on 12 and 13
March for a conference and action against the free trade agreement between
the European Union and the United States, organized by Alter Summit,
Seattle 2 Brussels Network, Blockupy Europe, ATTAC TTIP and the Belgian
D19-20 Alliance. During the 4th round of TTIP negotiations in Brussels,
activists were concerned about the potential impact of the agreement on
humans and the environment.

On the 13th of March, during the action against the TTIP in front of the
building of the European Commission in Brussels, the police prevented us
from waving our flags and manifesting in the space provided. The European
Commission wanted to cancel the event, but it didn't stop the 100
protesters who continued to delegitimize the TTIP.

On March 31st, Médecine Pour le Tiers Monde (M3M) and 22 Belgian
organizations joined forces for the electoral debate "Free trade, what is
at stake?". Belgian politicians were asked about their position on the
Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement (TTIP) and the agreement between the
European Union , Peru and Colombia ( TLC). NGOs and North-South movements
are active around EU free trade agreements with the south that affect their
partners in developing countries and have already proven their adverse
effects on humans and the environment extensively.

"The name TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) or TAFTA
(Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement) looks an awful lot like " NAFTA " (
North American Free Trade Agreement ) ," said Mike Dolin , a member of the
American Teamsters union in Washington. You can be sure that also this
trade agreement will have a negative impact on health, social protection,
employment and quality of work, the environment and - not in the least -
democracy. Susan George of the Transnational Institute and veteran of the
antiglobalist movement suited to that: "I am sorry that you will go home
with some bad news." And she was right.

The Transatlantic agreement promises to create jobs and prosperity, but
will it stick to that promise ? Bill Clinton made the same promise in the
90's with the Free Trade Agreement between Canada , the U.S. and Mexico (
NAFTA ). However, NAFTA caused the bankruptcy of 1.4 million Mexican corn
farmers and the loss of nearly a million jobs in 10 years.

The TTIP would contain investor-state-dispute settlement mechanisms( ISDS )
, which enables  investors to sue countries for the loss of current or
anticipated profits, even if it's about social or environmental
legislation. Some examples. The pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly sued the
Canadian state because it wouldn't approve 2 of its patents and Philip
Morris filed a lawsuit in 2011 against Australia because it wanted to put
shocking health warnings on cigarette packs.

While civil society is left in limbo, during "networking cocktails"
opinions of influential business lobbies are greatly appreciated. According
to Olivier Hoedeman of Corporate Europe Observatory these business
consultations are paired with appetizers of foie Gras dipped in caviar.
"This, while unions as official stakeholders are seated next to the table,
not at the table ! " said Mike Dolin. The mandate of the European
Commission is undemocratic and there is a total lack of public
participation in the decision .

The TTIP wants to "harmonize" European and U.S. regulations. Although
European Trade CommissionerKarel De Gucht said that " we will not get
American beef hormones on our plates , we are concerned that European
regulations will be reduced. We are deeply concerned about the
deteriorating working conditions that will be created by further
liberalization, since the U.S. has not ratified  International labor laws
of the ILO ( International LabourOrganisation ). Also, for social and
environmental protection, we are worried about the preservation and respect
of the European precautionary principle, that does not exist in the US.

On March 12, Karel De Gucht announced that shale gas exploration is part of
the mandate for negotiations on the free trade agreement with the United
States. During Obama's visit , this has again been underlined. In Latin
America, shale gas exploration projects caused enormous damage to the
environment and human health by, inter alia,  pollution of land and water
with carcinogens.

Last but not least, a word on human rights. While the agreement with
Colombia and Peru is considered by some parties as a "tool " to enforce
human rights, we see no improvement in the field . This free trade
agreement is in itself a threat to the Colombian people. Human rights don't
merely encompass murder and oppression, but also decent work .

The Transatlantic Trade Agreement is part of a new generation of trade and
investment agreements, which will set the world standard . If this
agreement is ratified, all other countries will have to comply with the
same standards of ISDS , minimum social and environmental legislation and
high protection of intellectual property rights in order not to be excluded
from world trade. It is the forming of a geopolitical bloc against emerging
economies Brazil, Russia , India , China and South Africa . The impact of
the agreement will undoubtedly be much broader than just the United States
and Europe but will also be felt in the developing world.

In July 2014 , the agreement will have its sixth round of negotiations in
Brussels. Again, international action days will be organized with the aim
of stopping the TTIP . An ambitious but achievable goal,  proven by the
successful protests in Seattle in 1999 and the worldwide anti-globalization
movement that continues growing.  Also, the free trade agreement between
the EU , Colombia and Peru has not yet been approved by the Belgian
parliaments and there are still campaigns ongoing.

--
Global Secretariat
People's Health Movement (PHM)
Email: globalsecretariat at phmovement.org
Web: www.phmovement.org
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