Comments on: The public supports a transatlantic trade pact – for now http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2013/02/19/the-public-supports-a-transatlantic-trade-pact-for-now/ Sat, 18 May 2013 14:03:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Sanity-Monger http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2013/02/19/the-public-supports-a-transatlantic-trade-pact-for-now/comment-page-1/#comment-70932 Sanity-Monger Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:29:39 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/?p=18093#comment-70932 @EconomyInCrisis: I believe you are thinking of the Pacific trade agreement. I know, it's tough to keep track. Trade agreements between countries with some parity in wages and safety regulations make some sense, unlike all of them so far that we've signed which simply send jobs overseas. Except of course the end result in this case will be the lowest common denominator with regard to the regulations and this is where the Europeans should be afraid, very afraid. @EconomyInCrisis: I believe you are thinking of the Pacific trade agreement. I know, it’s tough to keep track. Trade agreements between countries with some parity in wages and safety regulations make some sense, unlike all of them so far that we’ve signed which simply send jobs overseas. Except of course the end result in this case will be the lowest common denominator with regard to the regulations and this is where the Europeans should be afraid, very afraid.

]]> By: EconomyInCrisis http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2013/02/19/the-public-supports-a-transatlantic-trade-pact-for-now/comment-page-1/#comment-70919 EconomyInCrisis Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:31:09 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/?p=18093#comment-70919 Lobbyists who have been calling themselves “corporate trade advisors” have been writing this agreement, and it is a sure bet that they are looking out for their own interests and not those of the American people. The few details that have been leaked have shown this deal to be nothing more than a handout to multinational corporations. Under the deal foreign corporations would have the right to sue the U.S. government in a secret tribunal for the cost of complying with any regulation they feel is harmful to their business. That means laws we put in place to protect our health and our environment could be challenged by a Vietnamese company whose bottom line is impacted, and American taxpayers could be stuck with the bill. http://ow.ly/hTDLK Lobbyists who have been calling themselves “corporate trade advisors” have been writing this agreement, and it is a sure bet that they are looking out for their own interests and not those of the American people.

The few details that have been leaked have shown this deal to be nothing more than a handout to multinational corporations. Under the deal foreign corporations would have the right to sue the U.S. government in a secret tribunal for the cost of complying with any regulation they feel is harmful to their business.

That means laws we put in place to protect our health and our environment could be challenged by a Vietnamese company whose bottom line is impacted, and American taxpayers could be stuck with the bill. http://ow.ly/hTDLK

]]> By: Sanity-Monger http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2013/02/19/the-public-supports-a-transatlantic-trade-pact-for-now/comment-page-1/#comment-70918 Sanity-Monger Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:32:37 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/?p=18093#comment-70918 Pretty funny Bruce. Since when did public opinion matter regarding these trade agreements? The regulatory environment in the EU is markedly different from the US, as you point out. American business already bristles under the requirement to show that their products are safe before they can put them on the market in Europe. Aren't they going to insist (while they are writing the agreement, cuz face it, that's who writes them) that these regulations be scrapped? Are the Europeans going to accept the lax regulatory framework that exists in the US? For their sake, I hope not! Pretty funny Bruce. Since when did public opinion matter regarding these trade agreements? The regulatory environment in the EU is markedly different from the US, as you point out. American business already bristles under the requirement to show that their products are safe before they can put them on the market in Europe. Aren’t they going to insist (while they are writing the agreement, cuz face it, that’s who writes them) that these regulations be scrapped? Are the Europeans going to accept the lax regulatory framework that exists in the US? For their sake, I hope not!

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