Leaked Pacific Trade Treaty Shows Countries Had Plenty to Hi

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Leaked Pacific Trade Treaty Shows Countries Had Plenty to Hide

[ http://thetyee.ca/Mediacheck/2013/11/19 ... de-Treaty/ ]

Text reveals threats to Canadian web access, expansive border seizures and pricier health care.

By Michael Geist, November 19, 2013 TheTyee.ca

The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, a massive proposed trade deal [ http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2013/03/08/Tr ... ty-Threat/ ] that includes Canada, the United States, Australia, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Vietnam, Japan, Peru, and Chile, has long been the target of criticism owing to the veil of secrecy associated with the draft text. While negotiations have been ongoing for several years, participating countries have steadfastly refused to release the working text that addresses everything from agriculture to copyright, claiming that trade talks must be conducted behind closed doors.

Last week, Wikileaks released a leaked version of the intellectual property chapter, which confirmed that the U.S. hopes to use the agreement to export extreme intellectual property provisions that are out-of-step with international norms. Indeed, the 95-page document validates fears that the real reason for the TPP secrecy is that the negotiating countries have plenty to hide.

While many of the leaked proposals are cause for concern, the good news is that Canada often finds itself opposing some of the most draconian demands with negotiators promoting Canadian law as a suitable alternative.

The U.S. finds itself relatively isolated on many issues, with only Australia offering consistent support for its positions. For example, Canada and most other TPP countries support a general objectives provision that references the need for balance, promotion of the public domain, protection of public health, and measures to ensure that intellectual property rights themselves do not become barriers to trade. The U.S. and Japan oppose these objectives.

If the U.S. is successful in pressuring other countries to meet its demands, Canada would be required to radically overhaul its current law, reversing course on many of the rules the government recently enacted as part of its long-awaited copyright reform package or negotiated in the trade agreement with the European Union.

Bullish US aims to override Canadian law

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