Clinton, Sanders, and their effect on TPP Negotiations

[portlander23]

Politico: Presidential politics complicate trade talks

If negotiators had completed the pact two months ago in Maui as hoped, President Barack Obama could have submitted the legacy-burnishing deal to Congress as early as December, setting the stage for approval before Iowa and New Hampshire hold their presidential nomination contests in early February.

Instead, the largest trade deal in history is facing the potential for increasing pushback from the left, with Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton coming under intense pressure from progressives to reject the deal she promoted as secretary of state and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders — a staunch foe of the TPP — rising in the polls.

With the exception of currency manipulation, where any TPP provision could be weaker than Clinton would like, her benchmarks are largely in line with goals that the White House has set for the pact.

The delay in clinching a deal means union groups and other opponents have more time to lean on Clinton to oppose the pact, which could tie her hands to continue the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia” as a security and economic counterbalance to China’s rising power, if she became president. And the groups have more time to build a case against the deal with Democrats in Congress.

Following intense criticism of the proposed pact from labor and environmental groups and many lawmakers in her party, Clinton has shifted to a neutral position, saying she will closely examine the final agreement to see what’s being done to crack down on currency manipulation, improve labor rights, protect the environment and public health and open new opportunities for small businesses to export overseas.

Mr. Sanders' campaign is already pushing both Mrs. Clinton and affecting negotiations. If you're against TPP, it's a good case to be for Mr. Sanders.

[99th_Monkey]

1. Yep. Win or lose, Bernie is making a huge difference already.

The Keystone pipeline also comes to mind. I highly doubt Hills would
have abandoned her support for it, if it weren't for Bernie being in the
race.

[Geronimoe]

2. Hillary lacks leadership

She should know what the deal is currently and be advising what needs to change to make it good for American families and workers. Waiting until deal making is over, is not leadership.

[jalan48]

3. Look for some serious Hillary evolution on this one.

[whereisjustice]

4. The dwindling support she has is held in place by massive Wall Street investment

even if she says no to TPP it means yes. She will find a way to send millions of jobs to India and China. Either directly, indirectly or by H1B system.

She has evolved on so many issues, based on the opportunity of the moment.

Wall Street has a massive investment in Hillary. She has to pay those investors back. TPP is probably the most important way to funnel cash into the hands of her Wall Street investors.

TPP or not, Hillary will find a way to kill US jobs, and send them to India to $7 a day workers while scolding us for not having more education at $100,000/year universities.

[JDPriestly]

5. I will oppose any trade agreement that sets up an arbitration court that can impose

rulings or laws or decisions on the United States.

We have a democracy. These trade agreements impose an oligarchical regime on us through trade court decisions that are not subject to our laws and cannot be changed or even opposed by our courts or legislatures.

No to the TPP.

No to the international trade courts and arbitration panels.

[floriduck]

6. Overlooking Malaysia's

human trafficking and Viet Man's child labor abuses are as big of issues to me as currency manipulation.

[beam me up scottie]

7. K & R

[Sunlei]

8. This news brings great joy to China, they want many more centuries of dominance on their 'neighbors'