Round up of TTIP news
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a wide ranging free trade and investment treaty being negotiated between the EU and the USA. This is being carried out away from the eyes of the public - "The European Commission is making the secret Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) trade deal even more secret, introducing a new rule that means politicians can only view the text in a secure 'reading room' in Brussels" ( http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ttip-controversy-secret-trade-deal-can-only-be-read-secure-in-reading-room-in-brussels-10456206.html )
Growing Concerns regarding the NHS
Leaders of almost every major political party in the United Kingdom have signed an appeal not to allow a transatlantic trade deal known as TTIP become the Trojan horse that allows American business interests to take over the NHS.
"The National Health Service is facing a "unique risk" of having its services privatised if a secretive major EU-US trade deal goes through, trade unions have warned...
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: "David Cameron has shown that he's willing to go to Europe to defend bankers' bonuses, now he must use his powers to defend our cherished NHS.
"US health companies will even have the right to sue a future UK government in secret courts if politicians try to reverse privatisation." Huffington Post
Jeremy Corbyn, Nigel Farage, Nicola Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett sign appeal to exempt NHS from TTIP:
The appeal, has achieved the rare feat of bringing together all of Northern Ireland’s main political parties. TTIP, or the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, would free up trade between the US and the EU, by allowing companies from either side of the Atlantic to operate under the same rules.
A campaign group says that a report in a US journal concerning the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks show that Europe is already capitulating to huge pressure from the US to allow imports of previously banned goods before an agreement is reached.
The accusation comes as the European commission faces intense pressure to abandon the controversial talks, which critics say will undermine food safety, environmental standards and job security. More than three million people in Europe have signed a petition against the deal while an estimated 250,000 people marched in Berlin last weekend against the proposals.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has described TTIP as “toxic” and resulting in a huge transfer of powers to Brussels and corporate interests that will bring about a form of “modern-day serfdom”.
The EU commission wants to sign a trade accord before next spring with the US to lower trade barriers and boost growth. EU leaders argue that a TTIP deal would create a free trade zone covering 800 million people and act as a counterweight to China’s growing economic power. Brussels has predicted it would add $92bn to the EU’s $18.46tn GDP.
Campaigning & Information
War on Want has been particularly active in its opposition to TTIP, find out their position at http://waronwant.org/ttip
Ethical Consumer has frequent updates on the campaigns mobilised against TTIP
Analysis of impact of TTIP on NHS Does TTIP mean the privatisation of the NHS? (Full Fact Org):
- The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) might have implications for public services
- EU officials want to include wording designed to keep governments free to run services like the NHS
- We can’t be sure whether or not this would be effective until it is challenged in an international tribunal
Overview of TTIP (Wiki) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_Trade_and_Investment_Partnership