Here I am posting Carole Marx.s excellent analysis of TPP. With no pun intended, it is practical “Marxism” which makes class the class conflict dimenson of TPP
First Carole Marx in the tradition of Karl Marx makes it clear that this treaty is but a continuation of capitalism’s world market, transforming everything into commodities for sale. And “free and fair trade” is as real under capitalism today as it was in Karl Marx’s time—as real as Adam Smith’s “Hidden Hand” correcting all problems in the marketplace or the tooth fairy for childen
Carole Marx also echoes Lenin’s Theory of Imperialism, that is the export of capital along with the creation of alliances to carve up and redivide the world—often secret military treaties, collusive agreements between transnational syndicates of capital, fueling conspiracy theories. The Obama administration’s attempts to “fast track” TPP, that is to force it through before serious democratic debate and citizen participation is very much in this tradition.
For U.S. capital, corporate capital, TPP like NAFTA gives them everything they want and takes nothing from them. For Labor and all peoples movements, it takes away jobs, fosters more environmental decay, and undermines the existing regulatory systems
Carole Marx concludes with the growing and broad mass opposition to TPP. Like the ‘secret treaties” between major powers carving up countries and the collusive agreements between large corporations to carve up markets in the past, it must be both hidden and “fast-tracked.”
Carole Marx’s analysis deserves to be read widely and seen as part of the campaign to stop TPP, which hopefully, will win, unlike the campaign to defeat NAFTA, which was lost to the Clinton administration and then influenced directly the sweeping victory won by rightwing Republicans in the 1994 elections
Norman Markowitz
TRANS PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP TREATY (PTT) “NAFTA ON STEROIDS”
Thirty years ago the first “free trade” deals were enacted under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO), followed by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Central American Free
Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), the Australia -US Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) and many more. During this time, the global economic crisis accelerated at an alarming rate, with only the 1% reaping the profits.
Those in the 1% who are now pushing the TPP hope to take advantage of the huge supply of cheap labor and natural resources to be found in the Pacific Rim.
The TPP is being negotiated between the U.S., Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, with JAPAN ON the verge of joining, if it gets certain export guarantees. Other Pacific Rim countries would join over time. China is currently not interested in joining because not only does it have its own pacts (i.e., the ASEAN plus 6, Silk Road and others) but it also does NOT want its currency and import-export policies subject too the rules and regulations of the TPP and especially the U.S. which would be the dominant power - Calling all the shots and having primary control over the 40% of all global trade under this pact.
The (PTT) has been negotiated behind closed doors for more than six years. In the US almost 600 corporate lobbyists have been named as official advisors , granting them access to the texts, as well as negotiations themselves. Since negotiations began none of the negotiating documents have been officially released for public review, although some have been leaked. The texts are so secret that even the Congress can only see them by going to a locked room, without tape recorders or note pads, read them and pledge not to discuss the details with anyone.
The provisions are so shocking that the TPP mandates that its provisions cannot be declassified until four years after the TPP goes into force or fails to pass.
And, the TPP is the forerunner to the equally secret US-EU negotiations (TTIP - Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) for which President Obama initiated US-EU negotiations in 2013.
The TPP would expand the NAFTA model that has spurred massive US trade deficits and job loss, downward pressure on wages, unprecedented levels of inequality and new floods of agricultural imports. TPP expands NAFTA ’s protections for firms that offshore US jobs. US negotiators used the 2011 Korean trade deal as a model, under which exports have fallen and trade deficits have surged. Trade deals modeled after NAFTA have proven disastrous for Main Street manufacturers and workers.
This deal would worsen economic inequality and allow private companies to challenge domestic regulations before an international tribunal. These challenges could undermine key financial, environmental, labor and other regulations.
And most disastrously,The TPP would let corporations sue countries in International courts run by corporate tribunals, with judges and advocates handpicked from corporate law firms. In other words, if a corporation doesn’t like a regulation or thinks it will diminish their profits, they can sue any town, state or federal government over it. If successful the corporations can collect millions in damages from governments, which means taxpayers.
The Obama Administration is now pushing hard for Fast Track Authority which allows the executive branch to unilaterally select partner countries for “trade”pacts, negotiate their contents, sign agreements and then submit them to Congress, where both the House and Senate are required to vote the agreement up or down, without discussion or amendments, within 90 days. To prevent public debate on the details, the attempt is to get it “fast tracked” through Congress.
Although it is called a “free Trade” agreement, the TPP is not just about trade. Of TPP’s 29 draft chapters, only five deal with traditional trade issues. One chapter would provide incentives to offshore jobs to low wage countries. Many would impose limits on government policies that are relied on to maintain safe food, a clean environment and more.
WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY PURPOSES OF THE TPP
1. To make it easier for corporations to shift jobs throughout the world to wherever labor is the most exploited and regulations are the weakest, and
2. Putting checks on democracy at home and abroad by constraining governments’ ability to regulate in the public interest.
SPECIFICALLY CORPORATIONS WANT::
1. Cheaper labor costs. The TPP would grant corporations easier access to labor markets in countries where very low, unlivable wages are paid. Whether or not corporations decide to move their production to lower-paid countries, the threat of moving there (or being undercut by competitors who have already done so) can be used to suppress employees’ pay virtually everywhere in the world.
2. New, more effective tools for dismantling environmental laws.
3. Longer Drug Patents. This proposal would have the effect of extending drug patents for big pharmaceutical companies, making it harder for countries to produce or procure low-cost generic medications.
4. Further Financial Deregulation. Wall Street banks, insurance companies and hedge funds want the financial services provisions of the TPP to handcuff the steps governments can take to protect against “too big to fail,” regulate trade in toxic assets, erect firewalls between different financial service firms and control the flow of short term capital into and out of economies. It will roll back Wall Street reforms and ban Buy American policies needed to create jobs.
5. The treaty would put caps on food safety regulations.
6. Greater Access to Government Contracts. They want to prevent government contracts from being used to advance a variety of other environmental, social and human rights goals.
7. Lower Taxes. Corporations that have already offshored their production countries throughout the Pacific Rim are also looking to avoid tariffs on merchandise they’ve been importing back to the US.
8. The TPP will create a race to the bottom on working conditions, environmental standards and all kinds of public regulations.
9. The TPP empowers corporations to sue governments for environmental and health measures they don’t like.
10. The TPP will undermine indigenous rights and human rights.
Rather than advancing real free trade, the TPP is the answer to the question “how can we make the rich richer?” And Fast track is “a race to the bottom.”
GROWING OPPOSITION TO THE TPP
In Congress most of the Democrats are against the deal. The great majority of the labor movement is in the lead especially the CWA, Teamsters. Steel, Auto, fast food (SEIU) over 100 different mass organizations, the environmental movement, immigrant and human rights, groups, women for Peace, Ben and Jerry’s and the list goes on.
It is a massive, countrywide coalition that will coalesce and crystalize at the planned Demonstrations being organized throughout the world for “a Global Day of Action” on May18th.
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