France, Alternative Libertaire AL #239 - Transatlantic treaty: Serving multinational (fr, pt)

The free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, negotiation, 
prepares a bright future for the global industrial giants, which could soon attack the 
States justice when national laws affect their profits. ---- The European Commission has 
mandated June 14, 2013 to negotiate a free trade project prepared in the greatest secrecy. 
The Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP or TAFTA) agreement transatlantic 
free trade, is designed on the same model as NAFTA (agreement between the United States, 
Mexico and Canada) and bilateral treaties investments (TBI). ---- Tariffs to 3% most 
often, 14% for agriculture, too. An investor should secure its capital, but it is 
"non-tariff barriers" laws, standards, public services ... Harmful.

The EU negotiator, Karel de Gucht, Commissioner for Trade has forgotten States pursued by 
multinationals in the context of TBI. It is the novelty: the "investor-state disputes," 
where a firm can attack a state that would deprive them of profit. "Of course, we will 
implement a better mechanism to prohibit unjustified complaints. "Candor or cynicism?

Pyrrhic victory

The last summit between the European Union and the United States, the media have retained 
only discussions on Ukraine. Obama rejected criticism on health, social and environmental 
standards, and provided that the agreement would not touch it ...

Culture and its exception will not be part of the Treaty, yay! For the rest, silence. The 
EU believes half a percentage point of growth, 120 billion GDP, jobs and higher salaries 
is its online advertising. A win-win? There will be only the multinationals.

A dependent tribunal of the World Bank, ICSID, settles disputes regardless of the laws in 
camera and without appeal. Paid $ 3,000 per day, judges are of course no conflict of interest.

Five hundred fourteen trial investor-state have taken place since the end of 2012. In 
2005, El Salvador, two municipalities, three militants were killed, forced the government 
to abandon a proposed gold mine threatening waters. Pacific Rim Mining attacked Salvador, 
claiming $ 315 million of estimated losses.

In 2012, the firm Lone Pine Resources, which extract shale gas, wanted $ 250 million 
because the Quebec moratorium on water protection.

The largest fine amounts to $ 2.3 billion in 2012, paid by Ecuador to the Occidental 
Petroleum company.

In 2013, Canada rejected two placed on the market Eli Lilly drug for lack of medical 
service rendered and used generic. The firm claims $ 500 million in Canada by requiring 
the sale of products and the changing patent laws.

In 2010, the Argentine crisis has spent $ 12.4 million for his defense against Abaclat. 
Trial costs between 8 and 30 million.

Do not get fleeced

Lawyers multinational grow the threat of litigation as a weapon of weakness, suppression 
of standards and regulations, etc.. This blackmail is a golden opportunity to strip the 
country in crisis.

Chicken chlorine, hormones in meat and lactic acid, shale gas, GMOs., Anyone? If not, it 
is time to mobilize. Stop TAFTA collective was formed, with local variations. It is urgent 
not leave once more the political and capitalist oligarchies build a new tool to pluck us 
after poisoned es.

Jean-Claude (Paris Sud)

More: collectifstoptafta.org