Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
Leaders ignore calls for fairer trade deals and praise flawed TPP
MEDIA RELEASE, 16 March 2017: Representatives from all TPP countries except the US missed an opportunity to strive for fairer trade deals when they praised the dead TPP in a statement following a meeting today in Viña del Mar, Chile.
TPP protest as Trade Ministers meet in Viña del Mar, Chile
15 March 2017: Chilean community organisations have united to protest the TPP and the corporate agenda of regional trade deals as trade ministers meet in Viña del Mar this week to discuss the post-TPP future.
Don’t revive dead TPP, say 200 organisations in 15 countries
MEDIA RELEASE, March 9 2017: Two hundred organisations from 15 countries have urged trade ministers meeting in Chile next week not to use the failed TPP as a model for future agreements.
Trump wants even worse medicine rules
20 February 2017: US President Trump says countries like Australia are “freeloading” because our government regulates medicine prices through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The PBS is a vital part of Australia’s health system because it helps to ensure lifesaving medicines are affordable and accessible.
At a meeting with pharmaceutical companies in January, Mr Trump said:
‘TPP minus 1’ is a terrible idea
February 9, 2016: Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo is now pushing for a TPP without the US - or as he calls it, a ‘TPP minus one’.
This is despite the Senate inquiry saying no to the failed TPP’s implementing legislation, meaning the government cannot pass it.
Senate Report says no to zombie TPP implementing legislation
February 8, 2017: AFTINET welcomes the report of the Senate inquiry in which Labor has said that the US withdrawal from the TPP means it will not happen and that the implementing legislation should be deferred. The Greens and the Nick Xenophon team have rejected the TPP.
TPP demise makes way for fairer trade policy
February 6, 2017: Many prominent media commentators say the demise of the TPP is no loss for Australia, and reiterate the concerns of public health, environment, union and other community organisations. Instead of endorsing a failed agreement, the Australian Government should strive for better trade deals in the future.
53 diverse organisations call on Labor to reject failed TPP
6 February, 2017: Fifty-three diverse health, church, union, environment and aid organisations representing more than two million Australians have endorsed a letter calling on Labor to reject the failed TPP and ensure fairness in future trade deals, including the RCEP.
“Not only would it be futile to endorse an agreement that would never come into effect but it would also be damaging for future trade debate in Australia,” they write.
Time for progressive fair trade policies
January 24, 2017: Dr Particia Ranald's oped in the Fairfax media argues for inclusive and progressive fair trade policies as an alternative to both fundamentalist 'free' trade and Trump and Hansen's knee-jerk nationalism and discrimination based on fear.