Just say no to the
Free Trade Area of the Americas or FTAA
The latest international trade agreement is called the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Based on NAFTA, the FTAA is currently being negotiated by the US and over 30 other western hemisphere countries, from Canada to Chile. As usual, the negotiations are being held in secret, but reports indicate it contains no labor and environmental provisions, and in fact, encourages business practices that ignore such standards. The AFL-CIO has resolved to fight for 'enforceable workers" rights and environmental protections in the core of all new trade and investment agreements... including the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and to "vigorously oppose any agreements that fall short of this standard."
Why should I be concerned?
The goal of the FTAA is to build on NAFTA by further "reducing barriers to trade". It will contain a series of commitments to "liberalize" services — including education, health care, environmental services (including access to water), energy, postal services and anything else we pay for that isn’t a physical object.The FTAA effectively increases privatization and
deregulation in the western hemisphere — a very "business friendly"
agreement that takes power away from governments and increases that of
corporations.
Presently, under chapter 11 of NAFTA, foreign corporations are empowered to sue
governments directly for losses incurred due to the removal of domestic
standards or laws —usually designed to protect public health and safety. This
is called "investor-state" clause. The FTAA plans to expand upon this,
explicitly valuing corporate profits over human costs.
Recent examples under NAFTA :
- The Canadian government was forced to pay $13
million in damages and to drop its ban on the gasoline additive MMT after
being sued by the U.S.-based Ethyl Corporation. MMT, also know as
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, is a manganese compound which,
when burned in automobile engines, results in manganese air pollution.
The relationship between high doses of inhaled manganese and various manifestations of neurotoxicity, respiratory toxicity, and reproductive toxicity has been well documented by neuroscientists. The federal government banned MMT in Canada as a health protection measure. The Canadian government chose to settle with the Ethyl Corporation before the NAFTA arbitration panel could rule, providing Ethyl with $US13 million and an apology.
- In October 2000, Canada lost another Chapter
11 case. S.D. Myers, a PCB waste destruction company based in Ohio,
challenged a nine month ban on PCB exports from Canada to the U.S. S.D.
Myers sought a $US 50 million penalty against Canada. The Canadian
government has appealed the ruling
- In another case, U.S.-based Metalclad Corp. sued a Mexican state for compensation after a Mexican environmental zoning law forbid Metalclad to build a toxic waste disposal site. The company sued, stating the law was an effective seizure of the company’s property and under NAFTA rules (similar rules are to be implemented in the FTAA), required the offending government compensate the company.
NAFTA tribunals meet secretly
TRADE LAW SHOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH DOMESTIC ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION!
The Rally to Stop NAFTA for the Americas!!!!!
This rally took place on Saturday, April 21st,
2001
Noon to 2pm
Peace Arch Park, Blaine, Washington
Co-sponsored by the Vancouver & District Labour Council, CLC and the Whatcom County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
The rally was peaceful and
everybody had a good time even though a chopper
circled overhead all day . The Blaine Police, the Washington State Patrol
and the RCMP were very courteous
and friendly.
At the end of the rally a bald
eagle hovered overhead.
1864
President Lincoln Quote:
"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes
me to tremble for the safety of my country ... corporations have been
enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money
power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the
prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and
the Republic is destroyed."
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864 (letter to Col. William
F. Elkins) Ref: "The Lincoln Encyclopedia", Archer H. Shaw (Macmillan,
1950, NY)
Articles
ILWU Statement of Policy on the Free Trade Area of the Americas
Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade explanation of the FTAA
Time.com - The FTAA who cares?
Related links
Fighting the Octopus- Protest Against the FTAA - Quebec City ...
WTOAction.Org- FTAA Summit, April 2001 - Quebec City
Top Ten Reasons to Oppose the Free Trade Area of the ...
Official FTAA websites
Free Trade Area for the Americas - proceedings of a conference of distinguished scholars, public officials, and business leaders from Latin America, Canada, and the U.S.
FTAA Secretariat - Official site. Maintained by the Inter-American Development Bank, the Organization of American States, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.
USTR - World Regions - Western Hemisphere - Free Trade Area ... - Official Home Page of the FTAA. US Government Negotiating Team for the Free Trade Area of the Americas..