Wikileaks Releases Chapter From Secret TPP Agreement

From the most recent reports:

Wikileaks has released the Intellectual Property Rights chapter of the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which they claim contains rules and regulations that would have “wide-ranging effects on internet services, medicines, publishers, civil liberties and biological patents.”

The idea behind the TPP is free trade – amongst the member states, it aims to lower trade barriers, create a common standard for intellectual property, enforce labour and environmental law standards and promote economic growth.

The agreement has come under severe criticism and scrutiny, however, for the policy of total secrecy during the years-long negotiations.

Others have criticised the more stringent intellectual property laws it would introduce, which could extend copyright terms and mean harsher penalties for file-sharers.

Concerns have also been raised over the effect it could have on the cost of medicines – by extending the intellectual property rights of certain branded drugs, delays in the development of cheaper, ‘generic’ versions of these drugs could ensue, potentially leading to poorer people having to wait much longer than the wealthy to get access to the newest medicines.

“The new monopoly rights for big pharmaceutical firms would compromise access to medicines in TPP countries. The TPP would cost lives.”

It is of note, that part of the TPP is its justice system-it has proviso’s of having its own courts-courts which will be governing most of the Pacific Rim.  An international court which will be governing over 40% of the world’s economy.  This has an odd feel of the UN, and its aims to be the international arbiters for the world.  What the TPP is accomplishing is not making the Pacific Rim nations freed up to engage in “free trade”-it has 29 chapters, which only 6 has to do with “free trade”.

No. What the TPP is-its restricting the liberties of Americans, and introducing foreign influence, and foreign courts to govern whatever falls under the TPP’s regulations.  Any agreement that is so hidden, that even our own Congress has limited access to it-(they have to go into a well watch room, and read it there-they are not allowed to take notes out of the room)-this sounds like a plan of destruction.  If it was such a great “deal” why is it not transparent-why is it so hidden, why will it take four years before the public is allowed to view the documents?

Truth and Action has been covering the TPP for the last few years, when it was rumored to be all conspiracy theory.  Please check out our TPP article for more information here.   Below is a video which will give you a broader discussion on TPP.

Source: Independent