The TPP is 'free trade' in appearance only

[marmar]

The TPP is 'free trade' in appearance only
BY YVES ENGLER | NOVEMBER 16, 2015


The hypocrisy of "free market" advocates is astounding. While they trumpet increased competition and the elimination of state imposed barriers as a means of spurring economic advancement, they ignore how the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other "free trade" accords increase monopolistic intellectual property provisions.

In a recent CTV interview on the TPP, Carleton business professor Ian Lee began by saying we've known for three centuries that "free trade" increases wealth while a Maclean's editorial "celebrating" the accord noted "as with most things, the best sort of trade is free: free from tariffs, restrictions and other government-imposed barriers."

But the TPP significantly strengthens many "government-imposed barriers" to free exchange. The recently negotiated accord harmonizes intellectual property provisions upwards across the 12 nation zone. In Canada the deal will increase the length of copyright from 50 to 70 years after the death of an author. It will also increase (corporate) copyright holders' capacity to compel Internet Service Providers to block content on websites and to pursue individuals who transfer content they own between devices or upload/repost highlights from trademarked work such as professional sports.

The TPP will also extend drug patent protections. Brand-name pharmaceutical companies in Canada will be given patent term restoration to compensate for time lost during the drug approval process. ...............(more)

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/yves-engler/2015/11/tpp-free-trade-appearance-only

[cali]

1. Thanks for posting this

[Jesus Malverde]

3. Where you been cali?

Haven't seen you in a while.

[raouldukelives]

5. Great to see you back cali! nt

[jalan48]

8. Welcome back!

[Jesus Malverde]

2. K&R!

[appalachiablue]

4. What's FREE about 'Free Market' TPP? More accurate names come to mind,

for the TPP Trade 'Agreement'--like TPP 'Slave Market' and 'Slave Trade', not Free anything based on reports of what TPP will do to US workers and the middle class already shrinking fast.

[n2doc]

6. From Yesterday

[marmar]

7. Excellent

[annabanana]

9. "free trade" has ALWAYS been a misnomer.. all it means is

"free capital"

Labor is to remain chained....

[Fuddnik]

10. You people just don't get it!

You get to trade your work for "almost free". The Gold Standard would be free, but hey, we gotta be pragmatic here.

Corporations get to trade their pollution for free fines.

Banksters and other assorted Wall Street fraudsters get, "get out of jail free" cards, just like now.

Big Pharma will be free to charge whatever they want forever, and we'll be free not to buy their overpriced stuff. Besides, it's like Chris Rock said, Robitussin cures everything. Got a cold? Take some Robitussin. Sore back? take some Robitussin. Break your leg? Put some Robitussin on it.

We'll finally be free of having to buy anything! And they can get rid of us pesky Proles for free!

[red dog 1]

11. K&R...Thanks for posting

To sign the MoveOn.org petition to Congress to Stop the TPP:
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/stop-the-trans-pacific

[7962]

12. But we were told this was a great deal?

what happened?

[KG]

13. cmon people, workers in Brunei are getting a min. wage!

totally worth the further exodus of good paying jobs in this country. don't be so damn nationalistic.

[jwirr]

15. Who is going to enforce that?

[floriduck]

14. TPP is the single

biggest disappointment by President Obama and my two senators, Murray and Cantwell. I was previously upset that the President did not allow the prosecutions of war crimes against the previous administration. But TPP will have a much more adverse effect on every US citizen.

[Fairgo]

16. I believe it is time

For those staunch advocates of the TPP on this board to step forward, roll up their sleeves, and give us their analyses. The only precondition I would set in the ensuing discussion, is that we stick with the text as written. This was developed at great pains and in secret, undisturbed by outside forces...this is exactly what the authors intended and what the president believes to be the best for his constituents.

[Elwood P Dowd]

17. I've been calling it fake free trade for years.

These politicians and propaganda pundits slap the free trade feel good name on this crap and many, including some here, fall all over themselves rushing to praise it. When people start wising up to the free trade label on these scams, then they slap another feel good name on it -- partnership.