The United States and 11 other Pacific Rim countries have agreed to an ambitious and controversial trade pact that cuts trade barriers, sets labor and environmental standards and protects multinational corporations’ intellectual property.
The agreement on the Trans Pacific Partnership was reached Monday after marathon negotiating sessions in Atlanta through the weekend. Congress will have 90 days to review the agreement and will have to give it an up-or-down vote, no amendments allowed.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed the basic agreement as “a far-sighted policy for all participating countries that share the values and try to build a free and fair economic zone.”
The TPP is designed to encourage trade between the United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
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Thanks for the warning. I’m just a luke-warm opponent of TPP, but under the circumstances, I think I’ll stay away from “Daily Kos” today.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo!!!
This announcement had been pending the past several days, as an extension was called a few days ago to resolve some sticking points.
Hopefully, the text of the deal will be released soon to allow review of the details, and not get bogged down in ideological “NAFTA on steroids!” or uncritical “It’s the bestest deal ever!”
As someone who urged a measured but optimistic wait-and-see approach to TPP, I must say this: I don’t have a crystal ball or any inside information on what’s in this deal. I won’t support it uncritically, and look forward to detailed analyses from a variety of viewpoints.
I only expressed optimism in several long comments posted here the past several months because I have observed a number of factors that our negotiating team has in its favor, and which can provide the conditions for a favorable and advantageous deal.
But as always, the devil is in the details.
Amen to that. Here is the story that caused the back and forth between RichardInJax and Darcy and Darcy’c comment about getting even
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/doctors-without-borders-attack
Of course it was a tragedy, and it looks like we may have been responsible. Where we go from here, I don’t know.
Understandable though that the discussion between the two gentlemen got heated.