TPP Signing Only Marks Beginning of Fight, Says Bernie Sanders and Activists

[cali]

The Trans-Pacific Partnership encompasses 12 Pacific Rim nations, including the United States, and 40 percent of the world’s economy. Opponents say it will benefit corporations at the expense of health, the environment, free speech and labor rights. Activists have kicked off a worldwide series of protests, including a nonviolent blockade of the convention center in Auckland where the signing took place. A Maori tribe refused a request to perform at a welcome ceremony for trade ministers, saying the TPP threatens sovereignty. Meanwhile, the White House has warned Congress that a delay in ratifying the deal will cost the U.S. economy. Trade representative Michael Froman said the Obama administration is doing everything in its power to move it forward. But our guest, Lori Wallach of Public Citizen, argues, "We have to make sure every member of Congress says there’s no way, we’re not meant to do this." The deal has also become a campaign issue, and Wallach notes, "There’s no presidential candidate in any state polling over 5 percent who supports the TPP."

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AMY GOODMAN: Meanwhile, the Trans-Pacific Partnership has become a major issue on the campaign trail. During a town hall meeting on Wednesday night with Democratic presidential candidates, Bernie Sanders spoke against the trade pact and suggested his rival, Hillary Clinton, has flip-flopped on the issue.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: Virtually all of the trade unions and millions of working people understand that our trade policies—NAFTA, CAFTA, permanent normal trade relations with China, etc.—have been written by corporate America, and the goal of it is to be able to throw American workers out on the street, move to China and other low-wage countries, and bring their products back into this country. And that’s one of the reasons why the middle class of this country and the working class is struggling so hard. Secretary Clinton has been a supporter in the past of various trade policies—NAFTA and PNTR with China. Reluctantly, and after a lot of pressure on her, she came out against the TPP, and I’m glad that she did.

AMY GOODMAN: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton advocated for the TPP agreement while she was secretary of state, arguing it would set a, quote, "gold standard" for trade accords. However, she did come out against the deal shortly after it was completed last year.

For more, we go to Washington, D.C., where we’re joined by Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch and the author of The Rise and Fall of Fast Track Trade Authority.

Lori, welcome back to Democracy Now! The significance of the signing yesterday? And what happens next?

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http://www.alternet.org/signing-tpp-marks-only-beginning-fight-trade-deal-could-still-be-stopped

[Jim Lane]

1. Portman (R-OH) has come out against TPP. He's up for re-election.

Info in "Portman, in surprise, to oppose trade deal".

He voted for fast track, but both candidates for the Democratic nomination to oppose him have been hitting TPP. He saw which way the wind was blowing.

The approval of fast track certainly made it easier for Obama to get TPP approved, but I don't think it's a done deal. Some legislators who voted for fast track, saying they weren't taking a position on TPP itself because they hadn't seen the agreement, can't use that dodge now.

[Zorra]

2. K&R nt