TPP: It’s the trade deal that’s got SOME people talking… However perhaps the most worrying thing about TPP is how few people know about it at all.
TPP stands for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and involves trade between 12 countries that make up 40% of the global economy. Countries include the United States, Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Canada, Brunei, Singapore, Japan, Chile, New Zealand, Mexico and Peru. It became a treaty last week after years of negotiations.
The leaders of these countries say the agreement is good for everyone, and yet, there has been a certain amount of secrecy surrounding the entire agreement.
In fact, the general public was left in the dark about the contents of the agreement, until Wikileaks released drafts, and subsequently the final version of the Intellectual Property Rights Chapter, and it seems to confirm the skeptics worst suspicions – that it will affect jobs, food, the environment, and basic civil liberties including internet freedoms.
Thailand currently “remains curious” about joining the partnership. But what will this mean?
This article claims Thailand’s trade competitiveness is “not likely” to be hurt by TPP, however this article argues that Thailand’s exports will be in “dire straits” if it fails to join.
Business lawyers in Thailand Chaninat and Leeds have decades of experience helping foreign businesses be successful in Thailand.
The treaty has many worried, as corporations will be able to sue countries in secret tribunals if that country has a law they believe cut into their profits.
It will also be a threat to internet freedom, and service providers will have to “police” the web, not dissimilar to what they are currently doing in China.
Some are arguing that this is not really a trade deal at all, but a way for multi-national corporations to protect their investments and make even more money. Indeed, the fact that corporations are playing a part in writing the laws – a job usually left to government, should raise concerned eyebrows surrounding the ethics of such an agreement.
If you’re not riled up or concerned yet, check out this video featuring Matt Drudge of the Drudge Report on the Alex Jones show, regarding how this will change the way the internet works.
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