Trade: Warren pushes on anti-slavery; Rep Levin concerned abt drug patents and prices

[Panich52]

"Warren Pushes Obama To Keep Slavery Ban In Trade Deal"
reports HuffPost: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Thursday decried efforts by the Obama administration to undermine an anti-slavery measure that the Senate approved last week as part of a major trade bill. The provision, authored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), would bar the U.S. from expediting trade deals with governments that the State Department deems to be among the very worst offenders on human trafficking. ... much of the debate over TPP has shifted to human rights issues, due to the unexpected Senate survival of the Menendez ban..."

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7463252



Rep. Sandy Levin warns TPP would restrict cheaper medicines.

The Hill: "One of his concerns with the Pacific trade deal is that it extends more patent protection to drug companies, meaning the generic versions of medicines, which are typically cheaper, would not be available as quickly as they are now."

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/243373-top-dem-objects-to-restricting-drug-access-in-trade-deal

[pampango]

1. "Partnership agreements" (like the EU) should include high enforceable human rights, labor rights,

environmental standards, business regulation, consumer protections, etc.

We all know that our right would freak out if the US ever thought about joining any "EU-like" partnership with other countries. The "high standards" would freak them out since they are not exactly business-friendly. The "enforceable" part would make them very unhappy too since national sovereignty would take a back seat to "human right, labor rights, etc."

[freshwest]

3. I'd love that, though. I'd rather buy some things from the EU as they are better. nt

[WillyT]

2. K & R !!!

[Doctor_J]

4. The drug companies scored a huge win with heritage care. I'm not surprised they're part of

this boondoggle too. The human trafficking is over the top, even by today's standards for corporate indecency

[bullwinkle428]

5. Oh, that's right - the TPP WAS kind of a big deal around here a week or two ago.

K&R.