The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) also known as “Nafta on Steroids” is poised to become the largest trade agreement ever. Current negotiating countries include the U.S., Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The goal of the U.S. trade representative also is to include Japan and China. Another back-room secret corporate deal. The TPP has been shrouded in secrecy. All journalists and nearly all businesses and public interest groups, and the majority of Congress have been denied effective access to the negotiating texts. However, 600 corporate advisers - including Verizon and Walmart - have been given access. It is part of the overall corporate and Wall Street agenda to make the world safe for corporate investment and profits by reducing labor costs and undercutting workers’ rights; dismantling labor, environmental, health and financial laws and regulations that could impact profits; and setting up a process to resolve any disputes by going through special international tribunals rather than our own court system. Learn more at www.cwa-union.org/tpp and look for the petition being circulated by the union to stop TPP.
