WikiLeaks releases draft of highly-secretive multi-national trade deal

[Natural Citizen]

“No wonder they kept it secret. What a malicious piece of US corporate lobbying. TPP is about world domination for US corporations. Nothing else. We will stop this madness in New Zealand,” he told RT’s Andrew Blake.
According to WikiLeaks, the Obama administration and senior heads of state from other potential TPP nations have expressed interest in ratifying the agreement before 2014.


http://rt.com/usa/wikileaks-tpp-ip-dotcom-670/

[donnay]

This is disturbing and is BIG news! People better start paying attention!!

[FrankRep]

http://www.jbs.org/images/action_projects/CF-STFTA.jpg (http://www.jbs.org/issues-pages/stop-the-free-trade-agenda)


Stop the Free Trade Agenda (http://www.jbs.org/issues-pages/stop-the-free-trade-agenda)

STOP FREE TRADE AGENDA is a major new action project of The John Birch Society (http://www.jbs.org/) with the purpose of preserving our personal freedoms and national independence by stopping congressional approval of any new multilateral free trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). A vote to approve the TPP agreement is expected in late 2013; a vote on the TTIP agreement is expected in 2015. The global power elites view multilateral free trade agreements as one of their main vehicles for establishing, step by step, socialistic regional governments controlled by themselves as steppingstones toward a socialistic global government under the United Nations.


https://sphotos-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1184784_237861829698629_502246097_n.jpg (http://www.thenewamerican.com/files/TNA2917.pdf)

How the Free Trade Agenda Is Knocking Down America -- The New American (PDF) Special Report
http://www.thenewamerican.com/files/TNA2917.pdf


September 2, 2013


The Special Report includes the following articles:

- The "Free Trade" Agenda Threatens Our Rights (http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/item/16341-the-free-trade-agenda-threatens-our-rights)
- Global Merger: Piece by Piece (http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/item/16342-global-merger-piece-by-piece)
- The EU: Regionalization Trumps Sovereignty (http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/item/16343-the-eu-regionalization-trumps-sovereignty)
- Trade Promises... and Trade Reality (http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/item/16344-trade-promises-and-trade-reality)
- North American Union: From NAFTA to the NAU (http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/north-america/item/16345-north-american-union-from-nafta-to-the-nau)
- Fast-track: Enabler of the "Free Trade" Agenda (http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/foreign-policy/item/16346-fast-track-enabler-of-the-free-trade-agenda)
- Regional Scheme for the Pacific Rim (http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/item/16347-regional-scheme-for-the-pacific-rim)
- EU/U.S. — Transatlantic Convergence (http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/item/16348-eu-u-s-transatlantic-convergence)
- Preserve Your Rights: Stop the "Free Trade" Agenda (http://www.jbs.org/home/preserve-your-rights-stop-the-free-trade-agenda)


Tools to STOP the "Free Trade" Agenda - Pamphlet, Reprints, CDs, TNA Special Issues
https://www.jbs.org/shop-jbs/stop-the-free-trade-agenda


Facebook:

Choose Freedom - STOP the Free Trade Agenda (https://www.facebook.com/StopTheFreeTradeAgenda)

[Natural Citizen]

This is disturbing and is BIG news! People better start paying attention!!

It's only 1 chapter out of 29. Imagine what is in the other 28.

[PRB]

http://www.jbs.org/images/action_projects/CF-STFTA.jpg (http://www.jbs.org/issues-pages/stop-the-free-trade-agenda)

Support Freedom, stop free trade! Yeah, makes total sense!

[Dr.3D]

Support Freedom, stop free trade! Yeah, makes total sense!

Just think about PATRIOT and other government agendas that are just the opposite of what their name implies.
Now think about stopping that agenda

Now does that make more sense?

[tod evans]

Hmmm.

Wonder if this'll make "the newz"?

[PRB]

Just think about PATRIOT and other government agendas that are just the opposite of what their name implies.
Now think about stopping that agenda

Now does that make more sense?
A little, but sometimes I'm not sure what people are opposing. Is the message "Support free trade, but stop the free trade agenda because it's not real free trade" and "Patriots oppose USA PATRIOT Act" or "Oppose free trade, and free trade agenda" and "Unpatriotic and proud of it"?

[FrankRep]

Support Freedom, stop free trade! Yeah, makes total sense!

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a free trade agreement.

[FrankRep]

Yes, Ron Paul Opposes "Free Trade" Agreements


Ron Paul: Oppose Free Trade Agreements (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFLRuMHAK_w)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFLRuMHAK_w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFLRuMHAK_w

Ron Paul says Free Trade Agreements erode National sovereignty, destroy jobs, and only serves the special interests. So-called "Free Trade" is Government-managed trade.



Henry Kissinger: NAFTA, the Architecture for the New World Order (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKKwZl1BTxk)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKKwZl1BTxk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKKwZl1BTxk

Henry Kissinger: NAFTA -- it will represent the most creative step towards a new world order taken by any group of countries since the end of the cold war. The revolution sweeping the Western hemisphere points to an international order based on cooperation. It is this revolution that is at stake in the ratification of NAFTA. What congress will have before it is not a conventional trade agreement, but the Architecture of a new international system - Los Angeles Times, 1993

[Natural Citizen]

NY Times Endorses the TPP's Corporate Coup d'état ...

Abby Martin talks about the New York Times' bizarre endorsement of the Trans Pacific Partnership, a multi-nation trade deal that is being negotiated by corporations behind closed doors and kept secret from the public.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOKJo-W0TAE

[donnay]

It's only 1 chapter out of 29. Imagine what is in the other 28.

Indeed. This news really warrants people to pay attention.

[donnay]

NY Times Endorses the TPP's Corporate Coup d'état ...

Abby Martin talks about the New York Times' bizarre endorsement of the Trans Pacific Partnership, a multi-nation trade deal that is being negotiated by corporations behind closed doors and kept secret from the public.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOKJo-W0TAE

Abby Martin hates profits! <s>

[Dr.3D]

A little, but sometimes I'm not sure what people are opposing. Is the message "Support free trade, but stop the free trade agenda because it's not real free trade" and "Patriots oppose USA PATRIOT Act" or "Oppose free trade, and free trade agenda" and "Unpatriotic and proud of it"?
Yeah, I think you've got it. :)

[FrankRep]

Indeed. This news really warrants people to pay attention.

I've been warning about this since 2012.



http://i39.tinypic.com/2poeff6.jpg


Beware the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Pact (http://www.jbs.org/news/beware-the-trans-pacific-partnership-free-trade-pact)


John Birch Society ("http://www.jbs.org/)
Nov. 15, 2012

[FrankRep]

A little, but sometimes I'm not sure what people are opposing. Is the message "Support free trade, but stop the free trade agenda because it's not real free trade" and "Patriots oppose USA PATRIOT Act" or "Oppose free trade, and free trade agenda" and "Unpatriotic and proud of it"?

Ron Paul calls "Free Trade" agreements by their actual name: "Government-Managed Trade" agreements.

[LibForestPaul]

Can this meme, intellectual property, ever be altered back to state enforced monopoly. How can a non-existent entity be created out of nothing and become part of the vernacular? There is no IP.

[FrankRep]

Can this meme, intellectual property, ever be altered back to state enforced monopoly. How can a non-existent entity be created out of nothing and become part of the vernacular? There is no IP.

Abolishing "Intellectual Property rights" is a losing argument.

[LibForestPaul]

Abolishing "Intellectual Property rights" is a losing argument.

There is no such thing as intellectual property. There is nothing to abolish, There is no right.
I was going to ask you to show me where this term Intellectual Property existed pre-1800. I googled it myself...

John McLean, ...
"Congress, then, by this act, instead of sanctioning an existing right, as contended, created it."[3] McLean also rejected Wheaton's contention that requiring registration and the other conditions of the law were improper. Congress was giving Wheaton and other creators a special protection and it was not unreasonable to expect them to observe the formalities, the Court ruled.

Does this make it any cleare for you.

[FrankRep]

There is no such thing as intellectual property. There is nothing to abolish, There is no right.
I was going to ask you to show me where this term Intellectual Property existed pre-1800. I googled it myself...

John McLean, ...

Does this make it any cleare for you.

I'm telling you, too many people have too much invested in IP. You need to have a better argument.

[pcosmar]

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a free trade agreement.

Actually,, it is called a free trade agreement. But it is not free trade.

It is a managed trade agreement.. And a very restrictive trade agreement...

[PRB]

Ron Paul calls "Free Trade" agreements by their actual name: "Government-Managed Trade" agreements.

What would an actual example of free trade be, and how exactly would it be any better at "not destroying jobs, not eroding sovereignty, not serving special interests"?

[PRB]

Actually,, it is called a free trade agreement. But it is not free trade.

It is a managed trade agreement.. And a very restrictive trade agreement...

and if it were actually free trade, what would it look like? would you be for it?

[FrankRep]

and if it were actually free trade, what would it look like? would you be for it?

It would look like individuals and companies trading good and services. The government doesn't need to get involved.

[FrankRep]

Actually,, it is called a free trade agreement. But it is not free trade.

It is a managed trade agreement.. And a very restrictive trade agreement...

lol, I forgot the "quotes" I guess.

[pcosmar]

What would an actual example of free trade be, and how exactly would it be any better at "not destroying jobs, not eroding sovereignty, not serving special interests"?

Actual Free trade..
No government involvement,, no restrictions. No nothing,, but individuals that wish to buy and sell goods and services,, without restrictions.

The only example I could give is the Black Market.. But honest Free Trade would do away with any Black Market.

[HOLLYWOOD]

Other secondary/independent media is covering this, Democracy Now coverage: http://www.democracynow.org/2013/11/14/tpp_exposed_wikileaks_publishes_secret_trade

video: http://dncdn.dvlabs.com/ipod/dn2013-1114.mp4


LORI WALLACH: Well, free trade is a pretty theory, but as yesterday’s WikiLeaks showed, the TPP has very little to do with free trade. So, only five of the 29 chapters of the agreement even have to do with trade at all. What’s in that intellectual property chapter? What the Cato Institute would call rent seeking—governments being lobbied by special interests to set up special rules that give them monopolies to charge higher prices. What does that mean for you and me? In that agreement, we now can see the United States is pushing for longer monopoly patents for medicines that would increase the prices here. They’re looking for patenting things like surgical procedures, making even higher medical costs. They’re looking to patent life forms and seeds. And with respect to copyright, the U.S. positions are actually even undermining U.S. law. So, for Internet freedom, if you didn’t like SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act, the domestic law that Congress and amazing citizen activism killed last year when it was attempted to be pushed here domestically, huge chunks of SOPA are pushed through the backdoor of this intellectual property chapter.

Now, what the heck is that doing in a free trade agreement? I would imagine the Cato Institute is also wondering: Are Adam Smith and David Ricardo, the free trade philosophers, rolling in their graves? Because that is protectionism. This is patent monopolies. This is copyright extensions. This is actually exactly what Bill just talked about, which is powerful special interests—Big Pharma, Disney and the other big-content guys—undermining us as consumers—our access to the Internet, our access to affordable medicine—and they’re using their power to put that into an agreement that they’ve got misbranded as "free trade." That’s what’s the real TPP. So maybe, actually, we agree, between the consumer group Public Citizen and Cato, that what’s in TPP, whatever you think about free trade, ain’t so good for most of us.


AMY GOODMAN: Lori Wallach, what most surprised you about seeing the TPP agreement for the first time yesterday, you know, the WikiLeaks leak?


LORI WALLACH: Well, first of all, this is extraordinarily secret. I’ve followed these negotiations since 1991 with NAFTA. And during NAFTA, any member of Congress could see any text. In fact, the whole agreement between negotiating rounds was put in the Capitol, accessible for them to look at. In 2001, the Bush administration published the entire Free Trade Area of the Americas text, when it was even in an earlier stage than TPP is right now, on government websites. They’ve even excluded members of Congress from observing the negotiations. I mean, this is extraordinary.

And so, to me, what was the most horrifying, I would say, is the ways in which the U.S. negotiators are using this agreement to try and rewrite U.S. law. I mean, I find it morally repugnant and outrageous that the U.S. negotiators be pushing Big Pharma’s agenda to raise medicine prices for the developing countries in the TPP. People in Vietnam, in all the developing countries that have HIV/AIDS, that have malaria, they need access to generic medicines, and this would cut it off. But they’re actually doing it also to us. So, to the extent, theoretically, they’re sort of supposed to be representing our interests, it would make cancer drugs in this country more expensive. Evergreening of patents, changing just a little tweaky thing, the six-hour versus 12-hour version of a medicine, you get 20 more years of monopoly. Also undermining our Internet freedom by rewriting U.S. law? There’s language in there where U.S. law says there’s an exception for liability for U.S. Internet service providers. The U.S. is the only country in that bracket that’s saying, "No, we shouldn’t allow that in TPP." It’s backdoor diplomatic legislating.

And that ties into that business with fast track. Why were—and it’s now 27 Republican members, because there was a second letter that came out of the Republicans, and 151 Democrats—why were they all saying together, in the last 36 hours, "No fast-track trade process. We don’t want to give away our constitutionally granted authority over trade policy"? And a big piece of the reason is, the left and right in Congress may disagree on what the policies should be, but they actually believe that, constitutionally, Congress gets to write our legislation. So the notion of this backdoor legislating, that we saw actually revealed in this WikiLeak, is precisely what is uniting, animating congressional outrage at the notion that after being left out of these negotiations uninformed, somehow they should volunteer to handcuff themselves so they can be thoroughly steamrollered and have even their legislating authority undermined through this so-called trade agreement. That’s really a backdoor coup d’état on domestic policymaking.

[FrankRep]

I'm glad the right-wing and left-wing can come together to fight this.

[Natural Citizen]

I'm glad the right-wing and left-wing can come together to fight this.

This remains to be seen. I've yet to hear anything from our representatives or their relative cheerleaders in the mainstream media about any of this. Many of whom receive a lot of money from these multi-nationals to espouse their propaganda and legislate their will...even on a global scale, as these revelations reveal.

Frank, what do you think I'll see if'n I go turn on msnbc, cnn or fox right this second? My guess is some romper room fodder relevant to some hurry up and get elected narrative.

Media stands to benefit from this greatly from this skullduggery so don't expect them to say anything. Nope. Crickets chirping...

[pcosmar]

I'm glad the right-wing and left-wing can come together to fight this.

That would be nice,,

But they will do it anyway. TPTB want it.. and they will have it despite any resistance. :(

[tangent4ronpaul]

Other secondary/independent media is covering this, Democracy Now coverage: http://www.democracynow.org/2013/11/14/tpp_exposed_wikileaks_publishes_secret_trade

video: http://dncdn.dvlabs.com/ipod/dn2013-1114.mp4

I have to nit pick here...


I find it morally repugnant and outrageous that the U.S. negotiators be pushing Big Pharma’s agenda to raise medicine prices for the developing countries in the TPP. People in Vietnam, in all the developing countries that have HIV/AIDS, that have malaria, they need access to generic medicines, and this would cut it off.

Developing countries get these kinds of US drugs via 3 routes, roughly:
Through US government programs where the US taxpayer pays for them.
Through donations via the Gates Foundation and maybe others.
Through pharmaceutical company donations, for which they get huge tax write offs - Ie basically the US taxpayer pays for them again.

What NEVER happens is a developing contry buying US pharmaceuticals. They are simply too expensive!
Drugs from India are the same thing, but much, much cheaper! Relief organizations don't buy US drugs either, for the same reason. That and regulatory BS.

What the hell is big PhRMA thinking of?

-t

[Natural Citizen]

Indeed. This news really warrants people to pay attention.

The problem here is that mainstrea media won't even go here. They stand to benefit greatly from this tyranny. Not a peep from them, I predict.

And, of course, we have a few economic hitmen spending money lobbying for representation and presenting their prospective models to our representatives too so don't expect too much from various web sites that focus on elections. You know? Oil... agribusinbess...biotech...the usual crowd.

[donnay]

The problem here is that mainstrea media won't even go here. They stand to benefit greatly from this tyranny. Not a peep from them, I predict.

And the alternative media that speaks out about this are called alarmist and then dismissed as Conspiracy kooks. :rolleyes:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhzUGiYeZA4

[FrankRep]

Secret Globalist Treaty Threatens Internet Freedom (http://www.infowars.com/secret-globalist-treaty-threatens-internet-freedom/)


Infowars.com
November 13, 2013



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1AJN1_Wu4o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1AJN1_Wu4o



Wikileaks has released a 95 page, 30,000 word document spelling out details on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). The secret globalist agreement will have a significant effect on a wide range of issues including internet freedom, medicine, patents, and civil liberties. The cabal will meet in Salt Lake, Utah, between November 19 and 24.
...


Full Story:
http://www.infowars.com/secret-globalist-treaty-threatens-internet-freedom/

[Natural Citizen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPIsjH25GHo

This is probably the best piece I've heard regarding this issue. Absolute silence in the corporate media and similar web platforms so the only people who will be stopping this are the alternative folks.

[FrankRep]

http://www.thenewamerican.com/media/k2/items/cache/517cbb26cb9757617d0edd0230428b51_M.jpg (http://www.thenewamerican.com/economy/item/16941-wikileaks-publishes-key-chapter-of-secret-tpp-agreement)



WikiLeaks has published the chapter of the secret Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement that covers intellectual property rights.


WikiLeaks Publishes Key Chapter of Secret TPP Agreement (http://www.thenewamerican.com/economy/item/16941-wikileaks-publishes-key-chapter-of-secret-tpp-agreement)


The New American (http://www.thenewamerican.com/)
14 November 2013

[jbauer]

There is no such thing as intellectual property. There is nothing to abolish, There is no right.
I was going to ask you to show me where this term Intellectual Property existed pre-1800. I googled it myself...

John McLean, ...

Does this make it any cleare for you.

IP = the libertarians fight for "free shit". Nothing more nothing less. Dem's want free shit to poor people. Repubs want free shit to warmakers. Libertarians (some) want to steal from their neighbor.

[Natural Citizen]

Abby Martin gives a call to action for a March Against the Mainstream Media on November 16 by talking about the abysmal failure of the fourth estate and the lack of public knowledge about important issues.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7juFjHw4S0

https://www.facebook.com/MarchAgainstMainstreamMedia (https://www.facebook.com/MarchAgainstMainstreamMedia)

https://www.facebook.com/events/219796878185908 (https://www.facebook.com/events/219796878185908)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MAMSM.press.release (https://www.facebook.com/groups/MAMSM.press.release)

1) Go to http://mamsm.info/locations.htm (http://mamsm.info/locations.htm)
Find the location nearest you.
...
(2) Go to http://w11.zetaboards.com/MAMSM/index/ (http://w11.zetaboards.com/MAMSM/index/)
Sign up
Scroll down to: Protest Assembly and click your timezone
Find the protest nearest you and the organizers contact info.
IF THERE IS NO PROTEST NEAR YOU MAKE ONE! GET INVOLVED!

(3) Create a FB Event page for your area.
Save and upload the red cover photo on this main event page as your local MAMSM facebook event cover photo.

Put www.MAMSM.info (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.MAMSM.info&h=7AQEBNEcm&enc=AZNt8OHBj7S8Q9TZC6l5GIR43i956BSmdQSPldWuYt_Emi jBj4OVBImrMc1qNg_YcaM&s=1) in event's description and INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS!

SECRET CODE TO INVITE ALL FRIENDS:
http://antranik.org/secret-code-to-i...friends-on-fb/ (http://antranik.org/secret-code-to-invite-all-your-friends-on-fb/)

IT'S TIME TO MAKE A STAND AND GET THE PUBLIC INFORMED ON WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON! #MAMSM #NOV16

[HOLLYWOOD]

15 November 2013 Yesterday...

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131115_24.html (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131115_24.html)

Froman urges Japan to make decision on TPP
The US Trade Representative is urging Japan to make a decision on scrapping agricultural tariffs and other barriers to help conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks.

Michael Froman was speaking at the annual Japan-US Business Conference that opened in Washington on Thursday. He heads the US delegation to the TPP talks.

Froman said it's time for all negotiating countries to make political decisions to conclude the talks, adding that Japan's decision is a focus of attention.

Asked whether an agreement will be reached by the end of the year as planned, Froman said the negotiations will remain tough even if the target date is extended. He said now is the time to wrap up the talks.

At the event's beginning, Japan Business Federation Chairman Hiromasa Yonekura said the 2 countries' business leaders will also accelerate talks to support the TPP talks by the governments.

Business leaders taking part in the two-day meeting are to release a joint statement on Friday.
Nov. 15, 2013 - Updated 05:06 UTC


Michael Froman

Michael B. Froman (born August 20, 1962) is the U.S. Trade Representative (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_United_States_Trade_Representative). He previously was Assistant to the President of the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States) and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs, a position to be held jointly at the National Security Council (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Security_Council) and the National Economic Council (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Economic_Council). His responsibilities included serving as the United States sherpa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherpa_%28emissary%29) to the G7 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G7), G8 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G8), and G20 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G20_major_economies) summits of economic powers.[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Froman#cite_note-HLN0127-2) On May 2, 2013 President Obama nominated him to succeed Ambassador Ron Kirk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Kirk) as the U.S. Trade Representative (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_United_States_Trade_Representative).[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Froman#cite_note-3)[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Froman#cite_note-4) He was confirmed on June 19, 2013.




http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Michael_Froman_official_portrait.jpg/440px-Michael_Froman_official_portrait.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Froman_official_portrait.jpg)


17th United States Trade Representative (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_United_States_Trade_Representative)


Incumbent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incumbent)


Assumed office
June 21, 2013


President
Barack Obama (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama)


Deputy
Miriam Sapiro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miriam_Sapiro)



Preceded by
Miriam Sapiro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miriam_Sapiro) (Acting)



He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of CitiInsurance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citigroup), head of Emerging Markets Strategy at Citigroup and a Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_on_Foreign_Relations).

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Froman#cite_note-undp-7)He also spent much of his career within the United States Department of the Treasury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_the_Treasury),

[HOLLYWOOD]

Sociopath... Scum


http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/u-s-trade-representative-says-pending-pact-has-zero-to-do-with-sopa-1200838860/U.S. Trade Representative Defends Pending Trade Pact After WikiLeaks Disclosure http://pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/michael-froman.jpg?w=490&h=276&crop=1 Alex Wong/Getty Images
November 15, 2013 | 06:43PM PT

Leaked Draft of Trade Pact Stirs Up Outcry Among Digital Rights Groups (http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/leaked-draft-of-trade-pact-stirs-up-outcry-among-digital-rights-groups-1200832506/)Appeals Court Rejects Claim Against Paramount Over Ownership of ‘Rules of Engagement’ (http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/paramount-wins-appeals-court-ruling-over-ownership-to-rules-of-engagement-and-other-movies-1200802118/)

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman (http://variety.com/t/michael-froman/), touring Paramount (http://variety.com/t/paramount/)’s backlot on Friday, refuted reports that a proposed trade pact between the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim countries would be an attempt to impose provisions of ill-fated antipiracy legislation that stalled out in Congress early last year.

Following WikiLeaks’ disclosure (https://wikileaks.org/tpp/)of an August draft of a portion of the Trans Pacific Partnership (http://variety.com/t/trans-pacific-partnership/) Agreement, some digital rights groups have sounded the alarm over the pact, arguing that the provisions in the draft will limit Internet freedom (http://boingboing.net/2013/11/13/wikileaks-publishes-the-inte.html). The sites TorrentFreak and BoingBoing compared it to the Stop Online Piracy Act, which was sidelined in Congress in the face of an online protest, while groups like Free Press and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have condemned (https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/11/tpp-leak-confirms-worst-us-negotiators-still-trying-trade-away-internet-freedoms) its provisions.
But Froman, in a brief interview, said that “what we have in there are things that are already in U.S. law about making sure, whether it is copyright or other protections, are fully enforced around the world.”
“For example, as I understand it, I wasn’t around for it, (the Stop Online Piracy Act) was about blocking rogue Internet sites from accessing the Internet from the United States. There is nothing in the Trans Pacific Partnership, zero, that has anything to do with that,” he said.
He added that the agreement would be to “ensure that if a creative artist or others have intellectual property rights that are recognized that those are enforced.”

The MPAA on Thursday issued a statement cautioning that it was “important to be clear that the text circulated is not final.”


Froman also said that he was “not sure if (the leaked draft) was a legitimate draft or not.” He also said noted that it dates from August, and “so it doesn’t necessarily reflect the current stage of negotiations.”


“There is no agreement right now,” he said. “Nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to, and nothing will be agreed to until 3 a.m. on the last night of negotiations.”
Froman on Friday also went to the Disney lot to meet with studio executives to talk about trade and the Trans Pacific pact.
“Our goal through these trade negotiations is to make sure we are raising the standard of protection around the world, for artists and the people who support them,” he said.
He also called the talks over the trade pact “the most transparent trade negotiation in history,” noting that they have held more than 1,000 briefings on Capitol Hill, have enlisted 600 advisers for input from various groups and have invited stakeholders to address negotiators from all 12 countries, among other efforts. Representatives from both parties this week sent letters to President Obama expressing concerns that they were not being consulted about its provisions, which address not just intellectual property but a host of other trade issues including access to markets.
The countries have set a goal of reaching agreement by the end of the year.
At Paramount, Froman, along with his son, toured a construction and lighting shop on the lot, as well as a sound mixing stage where he watched a clip from the next “Anchorman” movie, “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.” He also visited the set of Nickelodeon’s “The Thundermans” and posed for pictures with the cast. With him on the tour were Paramount COO Frederick Huntsberry, exec VP Michael Romano and IATSE Third International VP Thomas Davis.

Filed Under:

Michael Froman (http://variety.com/t/michael-froman/)

Paramount (http://variety.com/t/paramount/)
Trans pacific partnership (http://variety.com/t/trans-pacific-partnership/)

[Natural Citizen]

The United States’ top diplomat said this week that the US will not walk away from Japan as tensions worsen in the Far East between America’s Asian ally and China regarding a heated territory dispute in the Pacific.

In the meantime, though, both the US and Japan are interested in other endeavors — like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. According to the AP, the multi-nation trade deal between the US, Japan and 10 other Pacific-region countries was also among the issues discussed by Kishida and Kerry during Friday’s meeting.
“[F]inalizing the TPP is one of the most important things that we can do for our countries’ economic futures,” Kerry said, according to the AP, and Kishida reportedly added that has tentatively agreed to cooperate towards a “prompt conclusion” of the negotiations.


http://rt.com/usa/kerry-kishida-china-japan-119/

Aside... Obama's TPP negotiators received huge bonuses from big banks


On Tuesday, Fang wrote that two major United States-based financial firms have significantly awarded former executives who have since attracted the attention of President Barack Obama and subsequently been offered positions that put them directly involved in TPP talks.

In Fang’s report, he noted that such hefty bonuses aren’t unusual on Wall Street.
“Many large corporations with a strong incentive to influence public policy award bonuses and other incentive pay to executives if they take jobs within the government,” he wrote.

But with the TPP expected to have serious implications on the corporate and financial realms, the appointments of Selig and Froman raise new questions about the potential influence of Wall Street on an already widely-disputed trade deal.

“The controversial TPP trade deal has rankled activists for containing provisions that would newly empower corporations to sue governments in ad hoc arbitration tribunals to demand compensation from governments for laws and regulations they claim undermine their business interests,” Fang acknowledged. “A fact-sheet provided by Public Citizen explains how multi-national corporations may use the TPP deal to skirt domestic courts and local laws. The arrangement would [allow] corporations to go after governments before foreign tribunals to demand compensations for tobacco, prescription drug and environment protections that they claim would undermine their expected future profits.”
“Not only do US treaties mandate that all forms of finance move across borders freely and without delay, but deals such as the TPP would allow private investors to directly file claims against governments that regulate them, as opposed to a WTO-like system where nation states (ie the regulators) decide whether claims are brought,” Boston University associate professor Kevin Gallagher told Fang.

When WikiLeaks released a draft version of a section of the TPP last year, the anti-secrecy group warned (http://rt.com/usa/wikileaks-tpp-ip-dotcom-670/) that “Particular measures proposed include supranational litigation tribunals to which sovereign national courts are expected to defer, but which have no human rights safeguards”

“No wonder they kept it secret,” internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom told RT at the time. “What a malicious piece of US corporate lobbying. TPP is about world domination for US corporations. Nothing else.”

Last month, leaked memos (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/08/tpp-trade-agreement_n_4409211.html) obtained by the Huffington Post suggested that the US has lost almost all international support from the 11 other Pacific Rim nations engaged in TPP discussions.


http://rt.com/usa/tpp-fang-big-banks-577/

[Natural Citizen]

The Looting Of Ukraine Has Begun (http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/03/06/looting-ukraine-begun/)




The austerity plan will cut social services, funds for education, layoff government workers, devalue the currency, thus raising the prices of imports which include Russian gas, thus electricity, and open Ukrainian assets to takeover by Western corporations.

Ukraine’s agriculture lands will pass into the hands of American agribusiness.



Did Ukraine Just Airlift Its Entire Gold Hoard To The U.S. Fed? (http://kingworldnews.com/kingworldnews/KWN_DailyWeb/Entries/2014/3/10_Did_Ukraine_Just_Airlift_Its_Entire_Gold_Hoard_ To_The_U.S._Fed.html)




Today an outspoken hedge fund manager out of Hong Kong stunned King World News when he said that the entire Ukrainian gold hoard may have just secretly been flown from Ukraine to the United States. William Kaye, who 25 years ago worked for Goldman Sachs in mergers and acquisitions, also spoke about the incredible implications of this astonishing development. Below is what Kaye had to say in this powerful interview.



It's possible considering the need to rebuild a relationship with Germany after we came up short with repatriating their gold. Maybe the Federal Reserve needed to be restocked? Heh...

[Natural Citizen]

GERMAN BUSINESS LEADERS BEGIN TO BALK AT RUSSIAN SANCTIONS (http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2014-03-13/german-exporters-fire-warning-shot-about-russia-%E2%80%9Csanction-spiral%E2%80%9D-banks-risk)



“It isn’t just German exporters that are fretting, and lobbying with all their might. Russia, with an economy that is already stagnating, and dogged by vicious bouts of capital flight, has $732 billion in foreign debt (http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/11/ukraine-crisis-russia-debt-idUSL6N0M72U720140311). Relatively little of it is sovereign debt, but nearly $700 billion is owed by banks and corporations – most of them owned or controlled by the Kremlin. Oil major Rosneft and gas mastodon Gazprom owe $90 billion combined to foreign entities; the four state banks Sberbank, VTB, VEB, and Rosselkhozbank owe $60 billion. Some of this debt matures this year and next year.

“US banks are marginally involved. Between Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan, and Wells Fargo, they have only $24 billion on the line. But European banks and insurance companies are up to their dirty ears in this suddenly iffy and potentially toxic Russian debt.

“When it comes due, it will have to be rolled over, and some of the companies will need to borrow more, simply to stay afloat. Alas, the current sanction regime of visa bans for the elite, asset freezes, and trade restrictions could make that difficult. Then there’s the threat, now more broadly but still unofficially bandied about, that Russian companies should simply default on this $700 billion in debt in retaliation for the sanctions.

“Some European banks, including some German banks, might crater. Even the possibility of a major loss would further rattle the confidence in these banks with their over-leveraged and inscrutable balance sheets and their assets that are still exuding whiffs of putrefaction. And this sort of fiasco, as the financial crisis has made clear, has an unpleasant way of snowballing – and taking down the already shaky global economy with it.

“During the financial crisis, German exports collapsed, banks toppled and got bailed out, and the economy experienced its two worst quarters in the history of the Federal Republic. No politician in Germany has any appetite to re-experience that. And the banking industry, with its powerful and long tentacles winding their way through the hallways and doors of the German government, has been assiduously at work, quietly and behind the scenes, to whittle any sanctions down to irrelevance.

“Washington’s defaulting on an agreement with Russia about Ukraine’s future, and the prospect of NATO troops in Ukraine, convinced Putin and much of the Russian elite that there’s no point in negotiating with the US.”



Beyond the actual looting of Ukraine economically and the quiet takeover of their agricultural system by "American" agribusiness that was at the heart of this, although not discussed, forcing sanctions will hinder the German/EU economy. That said, it's obvious why Washington would offer “trade agreements”. And it's obvious that the ruse would further the strongarm by Washington on Europe who, as we know, have been growing more independent of the U.S.

This right here along with the TPP in general as far as the money men go, is why we are seeing such malfeasance on the narrative by both politicians and corporate media. Corporate media, who, by the way, stand to gain a great deal in all of this as well. Oh yes...what a tangled web we weave.

[Natural Citizen]

Mass protests slam US-EU trade deal as 'corporate power grab'...




Tens of thousands of people are flooding the streets of cities all over Europe on Saturday in mass rallies against a controversial trade agreement between the US and the EU.

Talks on the pact, called the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), started last February and, having been mostly held behind closed doors, have raised widespread concerns in the European Union and beyond.

Social networks have been mobilized for a mass campaign that has been calling on Europeans and Americans to take action against “the biggest corporate power grab in a decade.”

One of the organizers of Berlin’s demonstration, Michael Efler, told RT’s Peter Oliver: “We are protesting here against the free trade deal completely negotiated in secret, because they give corporations more rights they’ve ever had in history.”

Protests were planned in 22 countries across Europe – marches, rallies and other public events – in over 1,000 locations in UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic and Scandinavian countries.

In London, British historian and investigative journalist Andy Worthington told RT’s Harry Fear that people have reasons not to trust politicians who have been reassuring them since 1980s, yet “handing over more and more power to corporations.”

The trade agreement between the EU and the US could be finalized by the end of this year.





Continued - Mass protests slam US-EU trade deal as 'corporate power grab' (http://rt.com/news/195144-europe-protests-stop-ttip/)

[torchbearer]

free trade is not brokered trades among national mafia agencies.
free trade is individual trade unfettered.

[Lucille]

bump for Rand

[Natural Citizen]

Thanks for bumping discussion on this stuff, lucille. I think this was the first thread on this around here and it kind of got buried. Will add to it later because the intricates are really the issue as opposed to some other popular debate models. I'm kind of just checking in today of and on. Like I was telling you on the down-lo, today is a busy day for me.