Danger in new trade agreement with the US

Why would any Australian government want another trade deal with the US, ask Ruth Townsend and Thomas Faunce in On Line Opinion WHEN PRESIDENT Obama meets Prime Minister Kevin Rudd next week, near the top of their agenda will be the expanded Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). Negotiations for this regional trade agreement are happening in Melbourne from March 15-19. Without a feasibility study or widespread public consultation, Australia has already begun working with the United States, Chile, Peru and the P4 group of nations (New Zealand, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam) to expand the existing Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) signed in 2005. Of particular concern is the threat that the TPPA will impose a so-called “investor-state” dispute settlement process. This would allow US multinationals to sue Australian state or federal governments when those companies believe that laws (for example protecting the environment or public health) have damaged their investments... Read the full article Photo: iStockphot