March 9, 2017

Don’t revive dead TPP, say 200 organisations in 15 countries

Two hundred organisations from 15 countries have urged trade ministers meeting in Chile next week not to use the failed TPP as a model for future agreements. The ministers from some of the 12 TPP countries plus China, Korea and Columbia are meeting on the 14-15th of March to discuss the future of international trade agreements post-TPP.

AFTINET Convener Dr Patricia Ranald said that 44 diverse Australian organisations endorsed the open letter to trade ministers, including the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, ActionAid, Combined Pensioners, Friends of the Earth and many other unions, church, environment and other community groups.

“Australian organisations representing around two million people have joined with civil society organisations around the world to advocate for a fairer trade future – one which puts people and the planet first,” Dr Ranald said today.

“The TPP failed because it put corporate rights ahead of people’s rights and generated so much community opposition that the Australian Parliament did not endorse the implementing legislation.

“Unfortunately some governments, including Australia, are trying to revive the dead TPP. We urge trade ministers not to make the same mistakes in future trade agreements, including the RCEP*.”

The open letter criticises the TPP for not delivering on promises of secure livelihoods, good jobs and prosperity.

“[The TPP] would have restricted governments’ ability to regulate to ensure affordable medicines, financial stability, workers’ rights, protection of the environment and climate change mitigation, and to protect indigenous rights and other fundamental human rights,” the organisations write.

“For these reasons, we believe it is not acceptable for TPP rules to be used as a model for future trade negotiations whether bilateral, regional or multilateral.”

“We urge you to accept that this model has failed, and to engage with us and others in a more open and democratic process to develop alternative approaches that genuinely serve the interests of our peoples, our nations and the planet.”

The full letter and list of endorsing organisations is here

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