Open markets, deregulation, privatization, to compete, dumb down, outsource production ...
It is long, the objective of the European Union. It is this question of broadening the
"single market" in the United States, through the Transatlantic Partnership trade and
investment, better known under the name of TAFTA. The threat is very serious, the response
begins. ---- Negotiated in secrecy since July 2013 between the European Commission and the
United States, the transatlantic partnership in trade and investment, better known under
the name of TAFTA (for Transatlantic Free Trade Area, English name before being renamed
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership ) is a time bomb for social rights and
productive autonomy of peoples, but also for the health and environmental rules in France
and Europe.
The principle of this partnership is very simple: establish a free trade area between the
European Union and the United States, facilitating competition and investment in a market
of over 800 million people. The goal for the capitalists, is constantly open new markets
to maintain their profits and ensure their survival.
To build this great transatlantic market, the Partnership intends to phase out all tariffs
and achieve "regulatory compatibility" on both sides of the Atlantic, short of leveling or
delete all barriers to trade in order to promote the great American and European groups.
We understand why the industrial and financial lobbies have long been at work for the
Partnership, designed to achieve their wildest dreams, early entry into force. And the
disastrous social and environmental consequences are already imagine that such a free
trade agreement might have.
First on traditional agriculture and the peasantry, under the combined effect of the
disappearance of customs protection and weakening health standards, may simply be embedded
in U.S. agricultural products (GMO chickens high battery and disinfected with chlorine,
etc..) and paid in favor of intensive farming backed by major food groups.
The questioning of a number of environmental regulations may also precipitate the entry of
unscrupulous energy firms operating shale gas blithely disregarding the health of the
population and safeguarding the environment.
At the same time, this partnership would accelerate the opening up to competition of all
public services: the great transatlantic market could also include education, research,
transport, healthcare, helping people, the distribution of water or electricity - all
areas which, proponents of free trade, are nothing more than market services which meet
buyers and sellers.
No need to expand on the dramatic effects of such social regression.
Finally, if this large market would see the day, conflicts between private investors and
States would be paid directly by independent arbitrators, completely bypassing the
traditional courts. It is this type of dispute that already exists between Canada and the
United States and allows the multinational Lone Pine claim in Canada $ 250 million in
damages due to the moratorium on the extraction of shale gas decreed in Quebec ...
A fifth round of talks scheduled to open in June 2014 between the European Commission and
the United States. The last round of negotiations will take place in December and if we do
nothing, the Partnership is intended to emerge in 2015.
To resist this new liberal attack, we call to join the group "Stop Tafta" which multiply
and to participate in the European Day of resistance and alternatives May 17, 2014.
We do not want this partnership negotiated by political and economic elites, out of sight
of people. We do not want this great transatlantic market for maintaining healthy
capitalist system and to satisfy the greed of European and American investors. We do not
want the capitalist system where only account implacable law of profit.
Libertarian alternative, April 29, 2014
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