Three Amigos Summit

[Joanne98]

President George W. Bush will soon host what has become an annual “Three Amigos Summit.” The leaders of Mexico, the United States, and Canada will be gathering in New Orleans on April 21 and 22. What do you suppose is on the agenda? A rational response to immigration, perhaps? A thoughtful renegotiation of the unpopular North American Free Trade Agreement? Lessons from Canada’s affordable medicines program?

No. No. And no. Rather than putting their heads together around pressing issues such as these, the three leaders will be advancing a so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP). And while that may sound well and good, this initiative, begun in 2005, is unlikely to produce either security or prosperity. That’s because the partnership is only with big business.

The chief executives of Wal-Mart, Chevron, and 28 other large corporations are in on the closed-door negotiations, while members of Congress, journalists, and ordinary citizens are excluded. And the secrecy is not just around the presidential summits, but also the meetings of about 20 SPP working groups that carry on negotiations over the course of the year.

What’s on the table? Not much is public, but we do know that the executive powers of the three countries are hammering out regulatory changes that they claim do not require legislative approval. And given who’s in the room, it’s a safe bet that these changes will favor narrow corporate interests over the public good.

The official corporate advisory body, called the North American Competitive Council (NACC), made 51 proposals to the SPP negotiators last year on issues as varied as taxation and patent rights. The NACC later boasted that “all three of our governments have committed themselves to taking action on many of our recommendations.”

Bad on Process and Substance
In essence, the SPP represents the privatization of policymaking. And so it’s not surprising that on top of the outrageously anti-democratic process, there are also strong reasons to be concerned about the substance of SPP decisions. Here are just a few:

First, at a time when the Democratic presidential candidates have kicked up a long overdue debate over NAFTA, the SPP would actually expand this flawed policy. Even though the lifting of trade and investment barriers under the trade pact failed to create the promised good, stable jobs, the SPP is further chipping away at remaining economic regulations. For example, at the last SPP summit, the three leaders announced a weakening of NAFTA’s “rules of origin” to allow products with a lower level of national content to receive preferential tariff treatment. This will undermine domestic industries by making trade in products from third countries like China even more profitable.
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/5152

[izquierdista]

1. This confirms my atheism

Because if there was a God, he (He?) would drop a meteor on this meeting and squash the three bugs and their assembled sycophants.

[Joanne98]

3. lol

[mac2]

2. Treason negotiated by corporate thugs

without citizen approval. Who are the North American Competitive Council (NACC) and who gave them permission to meet behind closed doors with the SPP negotiators? They sign away our laws our borders and our freedoms. How dare they!!

Didn't you just love how the candidates set this up to be part of their agenda. Negotiate better NAFTA trade deals with Canada my foot...oh you can have my foot right there!!

"The official corporate advisory body, called the North American Competitive Council (NACC), made 51 proposals to the SPP negotiators last year on issues as varied as taxation and patent rights. The NACC later boasted that “all three of our governments have committed themselves to taking action on many of our recommendations.”

You mean we all pay for a world order mercenaries who oppresses us? They make their own rules and laws? Knock, knock, knock...you don't let us in? Then your deals are illegal and unconstitutional...even treason.

It violates the Logan Act since we were not asked or did we elect anyone to do this in our name. It was not on our ballot. It violates the Constitution since it is "We the people" who decide what action our Representatives take regarding trade (Congress not Bush or his appointed trade person). This was not discussed nor approved.

"the three leaders announced a weakening of NAFTA’s “rules of origin” to allow products with a lower level of national content to receive preferential tariff treatment. This will undermine domestic industries by making trade in products from third countries like China even more profitable. http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/5152"

It has little to do with trade but government behind closed doors. The President and the Executive branch do not have to power to determine trade issues. Congress does with the permission and discussion of the voters.

It is Fascism. All three leaders should be arrested and jailed.

Bush should be impeached for such treasonous arrogance to please his fathers and the Neo Cons World Order government. It's his father's plan before he dies to have all of North and South America united into one trade and government union (like the EU). It's their goal not ours.

Call your representatives on Monday and say no way. We said ever since 2000 elections we wanted out of NAFTA. They ignore us.

The long primary is just a distraction like Monica was when they passed that treasonous NAFTA steal to our wealth and power "agreement".

You notice few have signed up for globalism classes at the Clinton library in Arkansas. It is going bankrupt. Will they burn the Clinton records...emm.

RING THE BELLS THE BROWN SHIRTS ARE COMING.