Upcoming Trade Deal: Another News Leak

According to Citizens Trade Campaign.org a meeting between 'The Trans-Pacific Partnership' (TPP) is coming up in California from July 2nd through July 10th, 2013. The meeting will discuss trade deals between the United States and eight other countries with three other countries who's membership is pending.

It appears CTC got a hold of a leaked draft that indicates "negotiators are considering a dispute resolution process that would grant transnational corporations special authority to challenge countries’ laws, regulations and court decisions in international tribunals that circumvent domestic judicial systems."


Admittedly I have more questions then answers.
* Who appointed and has authority over what our U.S. Trade Representatives agree to?

* Are these reps actually empowerment to do so, constituently speaking?

* Does congress have a final say or do these 'trade agreements' bypass the wishes and laws churned out by members of Congress?

* Will the details of these trade agreements, negotiated behind closed doors, be made wholly available to the public?

* How is it possible these agreements can override our agencies regulations on labor, environmental, copywrite, tax revenue laws, etc.?The other issue that concerns me is the continuing trend towards one layer upon another of our various court jurisdictions. We currently have a series of courts that oversee our citizenry at the federal, state and county levels. Another set of courts that rule under military law. Another set of secret courts that deal with classified agencies' documents and operations. The Supreme Court. And now some "international tribunal" has been added to an ever growing list.

Much like our federal government is comprised of it's 50 states, has the United States now become more like a member of some larger world government? State laws take precedence over local laws. Federal laws over states' authority. When United States turns over it's legal authority to " international tribunals" via these trade agreements, it appears to be so.

Who is this 'Citizens Trade Campaign' group that came across this draft?
"A national coalition of environmental, labor, consumer, family farm, religious, and other civil society groups founded in 1992 to improve the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)."



What about the G8 summit which wrapped up over this past weekend?Well according to Capitol Hill Daily the biggest issue was corporate tax evasion. Britain called on all nations to exchange information and attempt to plug up loopholes. As far as sharing more information about corporations here in this country with other nations, the United States said that it "is not willing to do more at the moment than press for new legislation. According to Wikipedia other nations seemed to be more onboard with the proposal. But were they really?

Everyone seemed to be talking the talk, while not actually committing to walking the walk...


For all the G8 summit accomplished Britain & Ireland could have saved the $92 million it cost to host the conference. They might as well have all stayed home, photoshopped the whole gang and given them each a meal certificate. It would have cost a whole lot less. Looks like protestors who showed up also wasted their time and money being worried about this hookup.