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Sign the PETITION to the Senate against damaging clauses in RCEP

The RCEP is a massive trade deal being negotiated in secret between Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Japan and the ten-member countries of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations). The proposed RCEP would cover 2.2 billion people. India left the negotiations in November 2019, but may re-join before it is signed in late 2020.

We need to tell all political parties in the Senate not to agree to damaging clauses in the negotiations.

Sign the PETITION to the Senate against damaging clauses in the proposed RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) and in favour of enforceable workers' rights and environmental standards.

You can print a hard copy of the Petition here, and donate to the campaign here.

See more information, including a short printable flyer here, and a longer explainer here.

Share video clip on the danger of ISDS claims against COVID-19 pandemic measures

October 21, 2020: Friends of the Earth have produced a 2 minute video clip on the threat of Investor State Dispute Settlement claims against government actions to contain the pandemic.

Huge global civil society support for South Africa and India on COVID-19 patent waiver, but WTO delays

October 20, 2020: South Africa and India called on the World Trade Organisation on October 2, 2020, to waive intellectual property rules that could impeded access to treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 pandemic programs.

RCEP signing expected November 14

October 13, 2020: The 15-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will hold its 10^th Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the 37^th ASEAN Summit, scheduled for November 11-15, 2020, hosted online by Viet Nam. The reported date for signing the RCEP is November 14. RCEP negotiations began in 2012, and India decided to withdraw in November 2019.

ISDS threat to coal phase-out needed to meet Paris emission reduction target

October 8, 2020: ‘Raising the cost of climate action?’, a new report from the International Institute for Environment and Development issued on October 4, 2020, includes a focus on coal-fired power stations covered by investment treaties which contain Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions.

How Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation swung the Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine to AstraZeneca

October 7, 2020: The Nation magazine has started the investigation of investments that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation may have in the pharmaceutical companies wanting to manufacture possible COVID-19 vaccines. The Gates Foundation is the key funder of Gavi The Vaccine Alliance and CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, as well as being a co-leader in the World Health Organisation’s COVAX Facility and Advanced Market Commitment funds.

South Africa, India urge WTO to amend monopoly patent rights to ensure fair access to Covid-19 vaccines

October 6, 2020: India and South Africa have asked the World Trade Organisation on October 2, 2020, to waive some provisions in its TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement to make vaccines and treatment more accessible to low-income countries, reported Pharmalot.

AFTINET tells DFAT review to drop corporate rights to sue governments from Bilateral Investment Treaties

September 30, 2020: AFTINET's submission to the Review of Bilateral investment Treaties (BITs) is here.

Australia’s tentative steps in global cooperative effort on COVID-19 pandemic

September 28, 2020: Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison re-announced Australia’s A$80 million contribution to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) to the UN General Assembly on September 26.

Australian, New Zealand and British Unions warn against bad proposals in UK trade deal

September 23, 2020: As former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott now advises the British government in its trade negotiations with the European Union, Australia and New Zealand, the trade unions from the three countries have issued a united call for decent work and high standards of health, environment and public services.

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