TPP: Record numbers of submissions to inquiry show opposition to more rights for global corporations

“The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties Inquiry into the Trans-Pacific trade deal received a record number of 175 substantial submissions, most of which are critical of the ways in which the TPP gives additional monopoly rights to global pharmaceutical corporations and permits all foreign corporations to sue governments over changes in domestic legislation,” AFTINET Convener Dr Patricia Ranald said today.

“The Panama Papers revelations of scandalous tax evasion by global corporations beg the question of why any government would agree to give such corporations additional legal rights to challenge national regulation as part of a trade agreement. Instead of enabling corporations to challenge future government regulation, governments should be ensuring that they have the capacity to act to end such behavior,” said Dr Ranald.
The complete list of submissions is on the JSCOT website here , and the AFTINET submission is here

The inquiry also received over 11,000 critical messages, which have not yet been registered on the website.

“The record numbers of critical submissions and messages show the deep community concern about the TPP expressed by a wide range of community organisations and individuals, including public health groups, aid and development organisations, churches, environment groups, unions, Internet users and other community groups. Many have criticised the lack of independent assessment of the economic, environmental and health impacts of the TPP and whether it in the public interest.”

We hope that the public hearing process, which may now be postponed in the event of an early election, will enable further real debate and evaluation of the agreement,” said Dr Ranald.

ENDS

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