A Senate vote yesterday to deny President Obama 'fast track' authority in negotiating TPP and TTIP looks like the beginning of the end for these trade deals and their secret corporate courts, writes Nick Dearden. Now it's up to Europeans to make sure the EU Parliament votes against TTIP in a crucial vote next month.
… finish the job! Nick Dearden | 13th May 2015 Comment Trade Finance EU USA Politics … less likely that Obama will succeed, with commentators saying Obama's trade strategy is …
The nature of Britain's trade deals with the United States after Brexit raises serious concerns about the quality of food on supermarket shelves - and the influence of vested interests in the meat industry, reports LAWRENCE CARTER of EnergyDesk, Greenpeace.
… ban on growth hormones. When contacted for comment by Energydesk, McKinney declined to comment – citing the ongoing nomination … failed to respond to multiple requests for comment. Beef lobby Chief agricultural trade …
MEPs vote tomorrow on Green measures to ensure that TTIP 'harmonisation' on food and farming means applying the highest standards, not the lowest, writes Molly Scott Cato. But will MEP's put farmers, food and animals before corporate profit?
… deal Molly Scott Cato MEP | 13th April 2015 Comment Food Farming Trade EU USA …
The TTIP EU-US trade deal has finally hit the rocks with massive popular opposition on both sides of the Atlantic gaining serious political traction, write Guy Taylor & Nick Dearden. There's now a good chance that TTIP will be defeated - but first we must make sure that CETA, the equally toxic EU-Canada 'Trojan Horse' deal, bites the dust.
… deals! Guy Taylor Nick Dearden | 4th May 2016 Comment Trade EU US Canada Politics … Cameron! This follows similar recent comments from Germany's Economic Minister …
Major world trade deals now under negotiation would allow corporations to sue governments for billions if they tighten up laws and regulations, writes Thomas McDonagh. But increasingly countries are rejecting these dispute mechanisms that undermine sovereignty and democracy.
… rights Thomas McDonagh | 3rd May 2014 Comment Trade Law EU USA … legitimacy - is not an accident. Several commentators and interest groups have been …
The lack of agreement at Copenhagen has left some thinking that the only way to protect national economies is to tax imports from nations who don't pay a carbon price...
… debated by the Senate. What do you think? Comment here Inside the bill's 1437 pages … columnist for the Ecologist READ MORE... COMMENT What the carbon market did after … Stern did for climate change - valuing it COMMENT Politicians have failed, business is …
The Government has let down Britain with its repeated failures to seize the opportunities of green growth, healthy local food, better housing, environmental protection - and is instead pinning all its hopes on flawed, outmoded ideologies that betray our futures.
… opportunities Natalie Bennett | 6th June 2014 Comment UK Politics Climate Change Farming … a clear vote-winner. As the Woodland Trust comments , "We are frankly perplexed why the …
Adam Weissman spills the beans on the Trans Pacific Partnership, which threatens to undermine democracy in the US and other countries at its roots. If passed it will represent a massive handover of power from nations to corporations - but as Mickey Z writes, there is still time to organize and defeat Obama's TTP campaign.
… corporate power Mickey Z | 25th August 2014 Comment Trade USA ttip-rally-cut.jpg Adam … mention on network nightly news - a pro-TPP comment on PBS' Newshour . During the same …
Secret documents leaked to Greenpeace from the EU-US TTIP negotiations show that environmental protection, climate change mitigation, consumer protection, public health and sustainability are sacrificed throughout to corporate profit and commercial interests.
… be a bad deal" , he said on French radio, commenting on the leaked papers. "It cannot be … input has been collected." Sylvia Borren commented: "We call on the negotiators to …
Flame retardant chemicals lower children's IQs, disrupt hormone function and cause a host of other health problems, writes Pat Thomas. Yet they are ubiquitous in homes and offices, even in bedding and accessories for babies and young children.
… must be protected Pat Thomas | 13th June 2014 Comment Toxics Trade Health …
When 97% percent of respondents to a European Commission 'consultation' on the TTIP EU-US trade deal opposed it outright the Commission accused them of 'hijacking' the process, writes Nick Dearden - and pressed ahead with negotiations. Whose Europe is it anyway?
… understand? Nick Dearden | 20th January 2015 Comment Trade Finance EU UK …
There is widely held belief that there' only one way to protect rhinos, elephants and other endangered species poached for the international wildlife trade, writes Douglas MacMillan: a complete trade ban. But it's a dangerous misconception. By raising prices and engaging criminal networks, bans speed up extinction rather than preventing it.
… it! Douglas MacMillan | 27th August 2015 Comment Hunting Trade Wildlife Trade …
There are many good reasons to criticise Donald Trump, writes John McMurtry. But none of these matter to the US media, political and corporate powers determined to keep him out of the White House. With his radical talk of halving military spending, controlling Big Pharma and exiting 'free trade' agreements, Trump is a direct threat to the parasite capitalism that's destroying America.
… power John McMurtry | 11th April 2016 Comment US Politics Finance Corporations War …
We cannot rely on governments in meeting in Paris to solve the many-headed climate problem, writes Vandana Shiva. It's up to us to safeguard the future of the Earth, and of our own and other species. So let's all join in this pact to love and protect our one and only home.
… the Planet Vandana Shiva | 2nd December 2015 Comment Climate Change Farming Water …
A future Labour government will ban all fracking in the UK and drive forward a clean, affordable energy revolution, Barry Gardiner promised in his conference speech today. And it will openly negotiate 'Just Trade' agreements that respect the environment, health and labour, boosting small business not just multinational corporations.
… trade! Barry Gardiner | 26th September 2016 Comment Trade Politics UK Fracking Fossil … It's one thing not to provide a running commentary. It's quite another to take a vow …
The UK and 13 other EU trade ministers have written to the European Commission's new head imploring him to include secret, much criticised investor protections in the controversial TTIP, the EU-US trade and investment deal, writes Jurgen Maier. Is this a democratic snub too far?
… sovereignty Jurgen Maier | 29th October 2014 Comment EU UK USA Trade Finance …
A British exit from the EU wouldn't liberate us from the extreme neoliberalism epitomised by TTIP, writes Caroline Lucas. On the contrary, UK governments have been the strongest drivers of the EU's 'free trade', pro-corporate agenda. Despite all the EU's faults - and they are many - it is protecting us from much, much worse.
… again Caroline Lucas | 9th February 2016 Comment EU UK Politics Trade Corporations …
Leaving the European Union and reaching a trade deal with President Trump's US would create a perfect storm for UK farmers, writes Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Kate Parminter, with new EU tariffs, reduced subsidies and drastically lower standards. The changes would also pose a serious threat to our natural environment, food quality and public health.
… Land' Kate Parminter | 31st January 2017 Comment Trade Food Farming Politics Brexit USA …
The TPP trade deal would expand a system of corporate rights and private courts that threaten progress on some of our most urgent environmental issues, writes Thomas McDonagh.
… planet Thomas Mc Donagh | 17th February 2014 Comment Trade Corporations …
The new Commission may have dropped environmental protection from its 2015 work plan - but it's pressing ahead with a new Directive to protect corporate secrecy, threatening consumers, journalists, whistleblowers, researchers and workers.
… Observatory Europe | 19th December 2014 Comment EU USA Corporations Trade Politics …
India's food system, essentially clean just a generation ago, has been comprehensively contaminated with sugar, bad fats, synthetic additives, GMOs and pesticides under the country's neoliberal 'great leap forwards', writes Colin Todhunter. The result? a surge in obesity, diabetes and cancer incidence, but no let-up in the under-nutrition of those too poor to join in the over-consumption.
… of bad food Colin Todhunter | 4th April 2016 Comment Food Farming India Trade GMOs Health …
The Trade Bill currently passing through parliament could result in Britain doing trade deals which undergo less scrutiny than through the European Union. This is not taking back control, argues SOPHIE HARDEFELDT
… Sophie Hardefeldt | 15th January 2018 Comment Trade Brexit European Union Democracy …
The US, long the world's biggest oil consumer, has just surpassed Saudi Arabia to become the world's top oil producer, writes Don Lieber. Oil exports to Europe and Asia will begin shortly. Now what was that Obama said about climate change? Oh, forget it ...
… producer, again Don Lieber | 29th July 2014 Comment USA Oil Energy Trade …
The TTIP - a massive trade and investment deal under negotiation between the US and the EU - could be the end of democracy as we know it, writes Morton Thaysen, as corporate rights will supplant those of ciizens and elected governments. Join a global day of action today!
… point! Morten Thaysen | 11th October 2014 Comment Trade US EU Finance …