The free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, negotiation,
prepares a bright future for the global industrial giants, which could soon attack the
States justice when national laws affect their profits. ---- The European Commission has
mandated June 14, 2013 to negotiate a free trade project prepared in the greatest secrecy.
The Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP or TAFTA) agreement transatlantic
free trade, is designed on the same model as NAFTA (agreement between the United States,
Mexico and Canada) and bilateral treaties investments (TBI). ---- Tariffs to 3% most
often, 14% for agriculture, too. An investor should secure its capital, but it is
"non-tariff barriers" laws, standards, public services ... Harmful.
The EU negotiator, Karel de Gucht, Commissioner for Trade has forgotten States pursued by
multinationals in the context of TBI. It is the novelty: the "investor-state disputes,"
where a firm can attack a state that would deprive them of profit. "Of course, we will
implement a better mechanism to prohibit unjustified complaints. "Candor or cynicism?
Pyrrhic victory
The last summit between the European Union and the United States, the media have retained
only discussions on Ukraine. Obama rejected criticism on health, social and environmental
standards, and provided that the agreement would not touch it ...
Culture and its exception will not be part of the Treaty, yay! For the rest, silence. The
EU believes half a percentage point of growth, 120 billion GDP, jobs and higher salaries
is its online advertising. A win-win? There will be only the multinationals.
A dependent tribunal of the World Bank, ICSID, settles disputes regardless of the laws in
camera and without appeal. Paid $ 3,000 per day, judges are of course no conflict of interest.
Five hundred fourteen trial investor-state have taken place since the end of 2012. In
2005, El Salvador, two municipalities, three militants were killed, forced the government
to abandon a proposed gold mine threatening waters. Pacific Rim Mining attacked Salvador,
claiming $ 315 million of estimated losses.
In 2012, the firm Lone Pine Resources, which extract shale gas, wanted $ 250 million
because the Quebec moratorium on water protection.
The largest fine amounts to $ 2.3 billion in 2012, paid by Ecuador to the Occidental
Petroleum company.
In 2013, Canada rejected two placed on the market Eli Lilly drug for lack of medical
service rendered and used generic. The firm claims $ 500 million in Canada by requiring
the sale of products and the changing patent laws.
In 2010, the Argentine crisis has spent $ 12.4 million for his defense against Abaclat.
Trial costs between 8 and 30 million.
Do not get fleeced
Lawyers multinational grow the threat of litigation as a weapon of weakness, suppression
of standards and regulations, etc.. This blackmail is a golden opportunity to strip the
country in crisis.
Chicken chlorine, hormones in meat and lactic acid, shale gas, GMOs., Anyone? If not, it
is time to mobilize. Stop TAFTA collective was formed, with local variations. It is urgent
not leave once more the political and capitalist oligarchies build a new tool to pluck us
after poisoned es.
Jean-Claude (Paris Sud)
More: collectifstoptafta.org
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» France, Alternative Libertaire AL #239 - Transatlantic treaty: Serving multinational (fr, pt)