otherwise, you wouldn't be reading my blog. Plutocrats
don't have time to read blogs.
The deal will be impossible to squeeze out of, once
we're in, so let's get some proof before we decide.
Anyway, the proof about this deal
which is being arranged in SECRET
is in the ISDS- Independent Dispute Settlement process
which by-passes the regular court systems of the EU
and its member countries. This ISDS already exists in
many trade agreements, and Germany is in the process
of losing $4 billion on two trade deals gone sour.
ISDS is a private "court" that decides on disputes between
governments and businesses, under some trade deals.
Unfortunately, the "judges" are all chosen from the
ranks of private industry, they don't have any judicial
or law experience, and are almost a bald-faced
slanted kangaroo court that finds in favour of
private biz, with no other recourse for appeal.
So, governments, and we, the public, are screwed
at every turn. Governments will not be able to
make decisions without checking with their ISDS
lawyers. Paying hefty fines in the billions will
bankrupt our governments.
governments and businesses, under some trade deals.
Unfortunately, the "judges" are all chosen from the
ranks of private industry, they don't have any judicial
or law experience, and are almost a bald-faced
slanted kangaroo court that finds in favour of
private biz, with no other recourse for appeal.
So, governments, and we, the public, are screwed
at every turn. Governments will not be able to
make decisions without checking with their ISDS
lawyers. Paying hefty fines in the billions will
bankrupt our governments.
the end of democracy
in short order
One deal went bad when the Fukushima fallout (pun)
caused Germany to speed up its withdrawal from
nuclear energy, from 50 to 20 years. A Swedish
company saw themselves losing a lot of money
because of this democratic decision, so they
sued Germany, and they will win.
The IDS is stacked in favour of corporations, because
the "judges" in the panel are just regular, untrained
BUSINESS folk.
Honest plutocrats have been heard (I'll find examples)
saying that they cannot believe that governments
sign up to such deals.
Well, the secret discussions will ensure that this
is what happens. Businessmen will say "all is well"
"nothing anti-constitutional to see here", until
the deal is signed, then they'll say
"but, we have a deal."
If you want to watch this debate, or take an MP3/4
pod with you, check this LSE talk which I was at:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/videoAndAudio/channels/publicLecturesAndEvents/player.aspx?id=2885
The German guy is first. He's all logic and numbers, but the Finnish
guy has seen this stuff in action, and connected it with the
rapacious "trade deals" that the US used to run with capricious
Latin American governments, to run their way around any surprise
blackmail that those tin-pot dictators could dream up.
There's no short-cut around the constitution. It will cost us all.
Here's more stuff for all you proof addicts. 2 things
checkit: 1
Independent
US firms could make billions from UK via secret tribunals
Exclusive: Previously unreported figures from the UN reveal that US companies had sued other nations 127 times in ISDS cases in the past 15 years
Jim Armitage Author Biography
Deputy Business Editor
Thursday 09 October 2014
Britain faces a real risk of being ordered to pay vast sums to US multinationals under the controversial TTIP trade deal being negotiated between Washington and the EU, an analysis of similar agreements has revealed.
The Government has repeatedly played down concerns that secret tribunals established by TTIP will lead to large numbers of American corporations suing the UK in trade disputes.
But United Nations figures uncovered by The Independent show that US companies have made billions of dollars by suing other governments nearly 130 times in the past 15 years under similar free-trade agreements.
…
Most of the US litigation has been brought against poor countries in Latin America and Eastern Europe with which America has bilateral trade relationships.
Previously unreported figures from the UN reveal that US companies had sued other nations 127 times in ISDS cases in the past 15 years Previously unreported figures from the UN reveal that US companies had sued other nations 127 times in ISDS cases in the past 15 years (EPA)
Unions and NGOs have claimed that TTIP will open the floodgates for ISDS cases that will overturn the decisions of democratically elected governments in Western Europe.
…
COMING TO THEIR SENSES
ISDS deals are also not new: Britain's first was struck in 1975 when it set up a bilateral trade deal with Egypt. However, the UN figures emphasise that the number of legal actions being taken under them has increased massively in recent years, with 58 and 56 respectively in 2012 and 2013.
Germany, which is being sued under an ISDS by an energy company over its moratorium on nuclear power, has been particularly vociferous in its opposition. This week, Italy's deputy industry minister said there were so many sticking points to the TTIP deal that there should be a ”plan B“.
”Today it is not possible to reach an agreement that includes ISDS because the Germans will never allow it,“ said Carlo Calenda.
…
”Today it is not possible to reach an agreement that includes ISDS because the Germans will never allow it,“ said Carlo Calenda.
Today the European Council bowed to calls to be more transparent about the talks by publishing its TTIP negotiating mandate.
ISDS actions: Controversial cases
* US tobacco multinational Philip Morris sued Australia over new rules demanding plain packaging for cigarettes, and Uruguay for printing health warnings on them.
* Ecuador was sued by US oil giant Occidental Petroleum after it stripped the company of the rights to explore for oil. Ecuador claimed Occidental was in breach of contract but the World Bank arbitrators ruled in favour of the company.
* Poland and Slovakia were both sued by private health and insurance providers when they attempted to reverse some of the privatisations of their healthcare systems.
* New Zealand withdrew laws on plain packaging after the Philip Morris case, while Canada revoked a ban on hazardous waste exports to the US because of fears it could face an ISDS claim.
2 BBC
Concerns rise over US-EU trade talks
By Andrew Walker BBC World Service Economics correspondent
Activists protest against the TTIP and CETA in Berlin on 11 October 2014 Protesters took to the streets in Berlin on Saturday
There are rising concerns in Europe over negotiations to liberalise trade with the United States.
The project, the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, aims to remove a wide range of barriers to bilateral commerce.
Demonstrations were taking place across Europe on Saturday, with large numbers of events in Germany, France, Spain and Italy,
…
Food safety
One aim of the negotiations is to reduce the costs to business of complying with regulations. A firm in, say Europe, that wants to export to the US often has to comply with two sets of rules.
Critics say the result of this would be lower standards of protection for workers, consumers and the environment. Food safety is a particular concern among European opponents of the negotiations.
People protest against the Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) in the southwestern French city of Narbonne on 11 October. People in the French city of Narbonne joined the protests
A demonstrator holds a banner in Parliament Square in London on 11 October 2014 Demonstrators in the UK are worried about the impact on the National Health Service
In the EU, campaigners say that consumers could be faced with more genetically modified food, hormone treated beef and chicken meat that has been rinsed with chlorine.
Another major concern is the provisions under discussion to enable foreign investors - for example American firms investing in the EU - to sue a host government in some circumstances if they are hit by a change in policy.
…
