More American Exceptionalism. TPP and the environment.

[Phlem]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/15/tpp-environment_n_4602727.html



-p

[blkmusclmachine]

1. HOPE! FOR! CHANGE!

[pampango]

2. Obama has pushed for strong environmental standards but has been resisted by every other country

in the negotiation.

The report (released by Wikileaks) indicates that the United States has been pushing for tough environmental provisions, particularly legally binding language that would provide for sanctions against participating countries for environmental violations. The United States is also insisting that the nations follow existing global environmental treaties.

But many of those proposals are opposed by most or all of the other Pacific Rim nations working on the deal, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Peru. Developing Asian countries, in particular, have long resisted outside efforts to enforce strong environmental controls, arguing that they could hurt their growing economies.

The report appears to indicate that the United States is losing many of those fights ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/us/politics/administration-is-seen-as-retreating-on-environment-in-talks-on-pacific-trade.html

[djean111]

3. So - why the fucking push to Fast Track?

Why not hope for Congress to Just Say No to things that are bad for the U.S.?
If Obama wants fast track, but is supposedly "losing" arguments, then that is just crocodile tears, all for show. Kabuki theater. Too bad we don't have someone who can win stuff like this, really.