What is the TPP?

A closer look at the origins behind the multilateral regionalistic secrecy.

By General Maddox.
Few Australians have heard of the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) let alone what countries are involved, the agenda of each country and the desired outcomes. With good reason. As highlighted in previous articles on Real News Australia;

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is the most secretive “free-trade” agreement in history, 600 Corporate lobbyists representing the likes of Monsanto are writing and negotiating the TPP so covertly, even the Australian Parliament is kept in the dark. WikiLeaks Party warns, “The strategy is to minimize informed political and public debate until a deal is signed, and at this point any alterations become impossible.”

As you can see the public at large nor the politicians whom purport to represent them are permitted to know just what is being negotiated in this multilateral regional trade agreement. An agreement which has its origins as far back as 1998.

15 years ago the US, under the auspices of trade liberalisation, proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with the US, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Chile. This proposal didn’t succeed however out of it spawned, what was known by member parties as the P4, the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement between Brunei, Chile, Singapore & New Zealand. This agreement did succeed and was kicked off in 2006.

What’s most important to note is the P4 was set up to be a fairly stock standard trade agreement but cleverly and deliberately designed to include an accession clause for other parties (nations) to join in the future.

Enter – the Bush Administration.

In September of 2008 the US threw their hat into the ring. The P4 was set to become the P5. Or was it P8? Australia, Peru & Vietnam followed suit and the TPP was born.

Next, the bubble burst and the GFC halted momentum of the new partnership agreement negotiations.

Enter – the Obama Administration.

It was full steam ahead as of March 2010. Malaysia joined the party and negotiations were now under way and still are to this day. They are however closer to being finalised.

Several prominent organisations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and outspoken journalists such as Nile Bowie have been working hard to throw the spotlight on the TPP.

Although proponents of the TPP may claim that its focus is to help the economies of signatory countries create comprehensive market access, eliminate barriers to trade, improve labor rights and encourage environmental protection, every indication suggests that the wide-ranging agreement intends to maximize dramatically corporate revenues at the expense of public health and safety, civil liberties and national sovereignty.

What’s most upsetting is the fact that the coffin lid is on and the undertaker has but a few nails left to strike into place sealing our fate. As much as I hate admitting defeat, it would seem it may be too late to stop it. The puppet-masters who sit above the marionettes, that we’ve come to know as our leaders, have been planning this performance for decades. With these negotiations taking place behind closed doors we’re relying on leaks from the inside to feed us tidbits of information. That’s not enough and it doesn’t look to change any time soon.

The TPP had its origins 15 years ago but dare I say it was the brainchild of the Royal Institute for International Affairs even further back?

Perhaps not by name but this organisation has been writing policy for banks, corporations, governments and nations for decades. An organisation whose ranks have been joined by our former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. A move that was acknowledged to have taken place as far back as January 2013.

We have to consider the very real possibility that the TPP is here to stay. That then begs the question, is the energy of the vocal independent and alternative media better steered towards devising ways to subvert or circumvent the changes that will take place once it’s made into law? Or do we go the other way and focus on ways to invoke an expulsion from the TPP altogether?

Either way, everyone needs to know about the TPP and the negative impact it will have on our lives.