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January is STOP The TPP Fast Track "TPA (Trade Promotion Authority) Month"

by Tomas DiFiore
It is critical that we STOP FAST TRACK NOW. 12 United States Senators have written a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid opposing renewing the “Trade Promotion Authority” or fast track authority. Specifically mentioned in the context of that opposition is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) a trade bill that shreds national sovereignty as well as labor, environmental, and financial regulations. Food labeling and Country Of Origin Labeling under the TPP: 2 proposals by 12 member States: it's 11 to 1 in support of honesty in COOL, Guess which Country opposes any integrity in labeling enforcement standards?
January is STOP The TPP Fast Track "TPA (Trade Promotion Authority) Month"

Trade Authority In Fast Track Re-introduced in Congress January 13, 2014
Fast Track is not in effect. Congress still has exclusive authority over Trade. FAST TRACK is a delegation of authority, President Obama has asked for it. But it only happens if Congress gives it to him. We have to make sure that congress maintains it's Constitutional authority.

Lori Wallach, of Director Public Citizen, interviewed by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS-x5SlcPPM

WikiLeaks Leaks Controversial Secret Trans-Pacific Partnership Documents
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7UJ9v7IWSo

What is TPP? How Secret Trade Deals Hurt American Families
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4ZsV7hSzaQ

3 Things about the TPP you need to Know and Share
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxklYigMBac

Jan 15, 2014
http://www.scribd.com/doc/200151609/TPA-Ltr-to-Leader-Reid-1-15-2014

12 United States Senators have written a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid opposing renewing the “Trade Promotion Authority” or fast track authority. Specifically mentioned in the context of that opposition is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) a trade bill that shreds national sovereignty as well as labor, environmental, and financial regulations. The senators want a new trade negotiation and approval process more “consistent with the constitutional role of Congress in trade.”

The fast track process essentially bypasses the normal rules of Congress in order to prevent alterations to an agreement that was already negotiated by members of the executive branch. Fast tracking a bill is a strategy by the president to marginalize congressional influence. Something the authors of the letter take issue with. TPP and TTIP are not just any trade agreements. They substantively alter American democracy by removing power from Washington and placing it with corporate tribunals.

Current TPP negotiation member states are the:
United States, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Chile, Singapore, Peru, Vietnam, New Zealand and Brunei.

Under “Intellectual Property” there is also disagreement among member States over Food Labeling, specifically Country Of Origin Labeling (COOL).

CL/AU/NZ/SG/BN/VN/MY/PE/CA/MX/JP propose, US opposes;
The Parties shall provide the legal means for interested parties to prevent commercial use of country names of the Parties in relation to goods in a manner which misleads consumers as to the origin of such goods.

US proposes, CL/PE/VN/MY/CA oppose; Each Party shall permit the use, and as appropriate, allow the registration, of signs or indications that identify goods other than wines or spirits, and that reference a geographical area that is not the place of origin of the goods, unless such use is misleading, would constitute an act of unfair competition, or would cause a likelihood of confusion with a prior trademark or geographical indication that identifies the same or similar goods.

Download the full TPP Treaty Intellectual Property chapter as a PDF here:
http://wikileaks.org/tpp/static/pdf/Wikileaks-secret-TPP-treaty-IP-chapter.pdf

Download the full TPP Treaty Environment Chapter as PDF here
http://wikileaks.org/tpp2/static/pdf/tpp-treaty-environment-chapter.pdf


Five members of the Senate Finance Committee told US Trade Representative Mike Froman they will not support the Baucus Fast Track bill because Congress needs to be involved throughout the process not just in an up or down vote after it is completed.

Long, long, article, well worth the read.
TPP Toxicity, And How We Can Stop It:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/TPP-Toxicity-Grows-We-Can-by-Kevin-Zeese-Baucus-Max_Fast-Track_Tpp-Trans-pacific-Partnership-140117-281.html


Rep. Keith Ellison (D, MN-05) Co-Chair for the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Charles Chamberlain, and Executive Director of Democracy for America have introduced PETITIONS.
http://limitlesslife.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/no-to-fast-track-and-instead-fully-vet-the-tpp/


It's happening so fast that online petitions are few except to individual State Representatives. Go here for a quick how to guide for online comments with a Congressional Directory, Script, and instructions.

QUOTE From GMO Free Orange County
http://mam-lb.com/script-to-call-congress/

QUOTE It is critical that we STOP FAST TRACK NOW. To do this, our U.S. congress members need to know that “We the People” are paying attention to what they are doing in Washington, D.C. We must pressure our elected congress members (CM) to do their “paid job” of making sure that we are protected from bad legislation. Remember, your elected representative’s work for you. Introduced January 13, 2014

Tomas DiFiore
Think Locally
Act Globally




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