TPP = ROBS ALL POWER OF NATIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PLACES THAT POWER IN THE HANDS OF MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS WITH NO LOYALTY TO HUMANITY!

“3 Ways TPP Could Cost Small Businesses” Interview of RICHARD EIDLIN on The Real News Network 

Click for Source Interview and Text on The Real News Network

JESSICA DESVARIEUX, TRNN PRODUCER: The trans-Pacific trade agreement, it’s gotten significant backing from President Obama

OBAMA Small businesses, need to sell more American products overseas. Exporters tend to pay their workers higher wages. China wants to write the rules for the world’s fastest-growing region. We should level the playing field. I’m asking both parties to give me trade promotion authority to protect American workers, with strong new trade deals from Asia to Europe that aren’t just free, but are also fair. It’s the right thing to do.

DESVARIEUX: TTP impact on mom-and-pop stores and small local manufacturers — To get a breakdown of the three ways TPP could be a bad deal for small-business owners — we talked to — American Sustainable Business Council’s VP Richard Eidlin an organization of 200,000 small, medium and large enterprises like Ben and Jerry’s and Patagonia.

RICHARD EIDLIN, AMERICAN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS COUNCIL: TPP could cause any local government ordinance or rule to be overturned by the international trade regime, because that local ordinance would become inconsistent with what was decided by national governments.

Local governments historically have in fact been sued in the international court by multilateral agencies who feel that a local environmental standard, a local human rights standard, a local procurement standard contradict or contravene what’s been negotiated, whether in Europe or in Asia, would prohibit an emphasis and a preference given to products made in the United States. So municipal governments, even the federal government, wouldn’t be able to, in theory, if this is adopted, maintain that provision and that current statute or that current regulation.

DESVARIEUX: Number two: small businesses have not been represented in trade negotiations.

EIDLIN: All we know its what’s been leaked. No one has seen the full text. Currently the White House wants fast track authority to pushnthis through witout review. You can vote yes or no, but NO CHANGES.

DESVARIEUX: Number three: potential job loss.

EIDLIN: Based on what we’ve seen, companies will move a lot more jobs offshore for more financially benefit of near slave labor and less regulation and nr companies will have more legal protections for their operations. = Vietnam + Malaysia + Elsewhere = The corporations defined the rules of hoe they operate. National and local governments have no say.

DESVARIEUX: Both sides of the aisle seem prepared to accept a fast-track deal. Elizabeth Warren has voiced her concern for fast-track+ Tea Party members demand more transparency. They’re hoping to delay fast-track up-or-down vote that could come before mid April.