asia pacific leaders on track to sign trade deal

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/APEC_FREE_TRADE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-10-08-06-37-11

BALI, Indonesia (AP) -- The U.S. and 11 other nations negotiating an Asia-Pacific free trade pact said Tuesday they are on track to agree a comprehensive deal before the year's end.

A statement by the 12 leaders after an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bali said they made "significant progress" in setting standards for trade in goods and services, and for investment and public procurement.

It said they agreed "to resolve all outstanding issues with the objective of completing this year a comprehensive and balanced, regional agreement."

The initiative, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, was launched at the 2011 APEC in Honolulu as part of President Barack Obama's shift to a closer focus on Asia. One aim is to significantly boost U.S. exports to the region and create jobs. The nations involved are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam.

[B Calm]

1. The DU Globalists will be thrilled.

[pampango]

7. If there are strong, enforceable provisions on labor rights and the environment, then yes.

And the tea party anti-globalists and the Chinese will be unhappy. Of course, a treaty with strong labor rights and environmental standards will never get through the republican House.

Still such an agreement would be good for the rest of the countries involved, including Canada, Mexico, Japan and Australia. Like the EU with its high-standards trade rules, TPP countries would have something similar.

They can go on without the US. We will just stick with our WTO/NAFTA standards (low to nonexistent) which China loves. Or we can go "cowboy", stop negotiating with other countries and just tell the world what rules we plan to follow. "We are bigger than you. We are exceptional. We don't negotiate, we tell you what we are going to do.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Another Big @#$%ing Deal

And people say that the Obama presidency is now dead in the water.

If he can get this done, and then entitlement reform, Obama's legacy will be sealed. I mean really sealed, as in secret, like the TPP and so much other great stuff our government is doing. Until some pole-dancer's beau fucks it all up.

In any case, there will be many, many post-presidential treats from Jamie and Lloyd to come! And Sasha and Malia will be able to follow The Path of Chelsea onto Wall Street and beyond!

Regards,

Third-Way Manny

[dipsydoodle]

3. Mugs

[marmar]

4. Ugh.

sad k/r

[djean111]

5. Well, of course they are thrilled......

A statement by the 12 leaders after an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bali said they made "significant progress" in setting standards for trade in goods and services, and for investment and public procurement.

All of our existing standards for goods and services and investment and public procurement - are flushed down the toilet.
Just think - environmental standards that Asia is happy with! Feces and melamine. Public procurement - no USA stuff for YOU! Investment - no strings attached - this looks like the one per-center Christmas wish all come true.

I don't care who is president - this reeks.

[abelenkpe]

6. Yay! More jobs

Just not in the USA.

[Dustlawyer]

8. As Dylan Ratigan said in my all time favorite rant, "The United States is being extracted!"

Our jobs, our money all going overseas by design. Republican and Democrat Presidents both have continued this policy since Reagan b/c BOTH PARTIES are wholly owned by Wall Street and K Street!
PUBLICLY FUNDED ELECTIONS are the only way to fight their BS! We must fight for them!

[pampango]

9. "China expressed concern that it will lay down trade rules mainly benefiting the richest countries."

Significantly, the TPP excludes China. And Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, has stayed out.

But China, and even some developing nations included in the TPP, have expressed concern that it will lay down trade rules mainly benefiting the richest countries.

“China will commit itself to building a trans-Pacific regional cooperation framework that benefits all parties,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the APEC business forum, which came after he oversaw tens of billions of dollars in trade deals on visits to Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. Xi’s comments were interpreted in China’s state-run media on Tuesday as direct criticism of the TPP.

“The Trans-Pacific Partnership, featuring the highest trade standard beyond mere lower tariffs, is widely considered a new step for the U.S. to dominate the economy in the Asia-Pacific region,” the China Daily newspaper said in a front-page report on Xi’s speech.

http://www.nationalmemo.com/u-s-and-china-tussle-for-trade-dominance-at-apec/2/