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Purveyor

(29,876 posts)
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 04:08 PM Jan 2014

Congressional Deal Reached on Obama Trade-Talks Authority

Source: Bloomberg

By Brian Wingfield, Laura Litvan and Michael C. Bender - Jan 9, 2014 2:00 PM ET


Congressional leaders who oversee trade policy introduced legislation today that would give President Barack Obama the fast-track authority he is seeking to negotiate agreements.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp of Michigan joined leaders of the Senate Finance Committee to offer their version of the legislation on so-called trade-promotion authority, which subjects trade deals to an up-or-down vote by Congress.

“The TPA legislation we are introducing today will make sure that these trade deals get done, and get done right,” Senator Max Baucus of Montana, the Senate Finance Committee Chairman, said today in a statement. “This is our opportunity to tell the administration -- and our trading partners -- what Congress’s negotiating priorities are.”

The Obama administration is seeking trade-promotion authority to smooth congressional passage of trade deals, including accords with a group of 11 Pacific region nations and the 28-nation European Union. Those pacts, to create the world’s largest free-trade zones, would link regions with about $44 trillion in annual economic output. The U.S. is also negotiating a services-trade agreement with a group of nations that would cover about half of the world’s economy.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-09/congressional-deal-reached-on-obama-trade-talks-authority.html

34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Congressional Deal Reached on Obama Trade-Talks Authority (Original Post) Purveyor Jan 2014 OP
Fuck Autumn Jan 2014 #1
Yep! xxqqqzme Jan 2014 #3
FUCK ** FUCK Vincardog Jan 2014 #2
God dammit! arcane1 Jan 2014 #4
Our leaders are working very hard for the 1%. jsr Jan 2014 #5
That they are. nt mother earth Jan 2014 #6
Another victory for President Obama! Freddie Stubbs Jan 2014 #7
Goodbye Constitution and Bill of Rights. TPP now trumps you. denverbill Jan 2014 #8
Perhaps the former Constitutional Law Professor knows what he is doing Freddie Stubbs Jan 2014 #31
It's been introduced, NOT yet passed. -- Still Time to Call Your Reps & Apply Pressure AGAINST it! whathehell Jan 2014 #9
Our overseas partners need to halt it as well DJ13 Jan 2014 #27
sorry, your link doesn't work for me. bbgrunt Jan 2014 #28
How is this? whathehell Jan 2014 #30
yep. that works. thanks bbgrunt Jan 2014 #32
You're welcome. n/t whathehell Jan 2014 #33
Interesting provisions on labor rights, environment and currency manipulation. pampango Jan 2014 #10
Tell'em George Carlin. 12ZTR Jan 2014 #11
A big nail in the coffin for the 99% worldwide Deny and Shred Jan 2014 #12
TPP SamKnause Jan 2014 #13
Fascinating similarity in our responses Deny and Shred Jan 2014 #19
Reply SamKnause Jan 2014 #20
Obummer PSPS Jan 2014 #14
We stopped the attack on Syria. iandhr Jan 2014 #15
Yes we CAN stop this if we make whathehell Jan 2014 #18
Who says that Congress . . FairWinds Jan 2014 #16
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OnyxCollie Jan 2014 #17
If this passes then vote every one of these fuckers out of office 4dsc Jan 2014 #21
This is dying with 15 fucking recs? HomerRamone Jan 2014 #22
Shouldn't this outrage take precedence over Christie's corruption? DerekG Jan 2014 #23
You see clearly. woo me with science Jan 2014 #24
Yes, absolutely! n/t whathehell Jan 2014 #34
K&R We People Jan 2014 #25
Fucking Baucus taking one last shit on the faces of American people. JEB Jan 2014 #26
who'd a thunk?! Don't be distracted by Christie Crap--THIS is what's happening now. bbgrunt Jan 2014 #29

whathehell

(29,067 posts)
9. It's been introduced, NOT yet passed. -- Still Time to Call Your Reps & Apply Pressure AGAINST it!
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 04:41 PM
Jan 2014
http://www.citizen.org/tradewatch.

Please do EVERYTHING you can to STOP it!

DJ13

(23,671 posts)
27. Our overseas partners need to halt it as well
Fri Jan 10, 2014, 12:59 AM
Jan 2014

From what I've read it requires a unanimous vote by all members within the agreement.

Any one of those countries can stop it.

pampango

(24,692 posts)
10. Interesting provisions on labor rights, environment and currency manipulation.
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 04:42 PM
Jan 2014
Updates Labor and Environment:

Updated provisions reflect the United States’ most recent trade agreements, to require trading partners to adopt, maintain, and not waive or derogate from measures implementing internationally recognized core labor standards in a manner affecting trade and investment and multilateral environmental agreements to which the United States is a party, with the same dispute settlement and remedies as for other enforceable obligations.

Updates Negotiating Objectives for the 21st Century:

Addresses Currency Manipulation: New negotiating objective for the first time directs that trade partners avoid
manipulating exchange rates, such as through cooperative mechanisms, enforceable rules, reporting, monitoring,
transparency, or other means, as appropriate.

Protects U.S. Sovereignty:

New provisions affirm that trade agreements cannot change U.S. law without Congressional action.

http://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/TPA%20One%20Pager.pdf
 

12ZTR

(92 posts)
11. Tell'em George Carlin.
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 04:51 PM
Jan 2014

Who signed NAFTA?
Will Obama sign,if this deal gets through Congress? How many Democrats will vote YEA?
Who said Republicans will vote against their own interest? Of course Democrats are SO MUCH SMARTER.

This can never be watched enough.

http://shoqvalue.com/george-carlin-on-the-american-dream-with-transcript/

"The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice. You don't. You have no choice! You have OWNERS! They OWN YOU."

I certainly hope this doesn't offend anyone's tender sensibilities.

Deny and Shred

(1,061 posts)
12. A big nail in the coffin for the 99% worldwide
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 04:59 PM
Jan 2014

Fast-track is difficult to overcome or alter. Who did I vote for twice?

The ability for corporations to sue governments for lost profits due to 'over-regulation' is beyond anything Orwell could have imagined. One of many vile provisions in the TPP.

The DoJ arguing for NSA secrecy has broken at the same time in the news cycle. Any coincedence September traffic on the GWB is dominating headlines? Perhaps just my cynicism.

Fast-tracking negotiaions over half the world's economy? For months, I've been told here on DU its the President playing 11-dimensional chess to save us all. This move feels like checkmate is coming very soon - by the wrong side.

SamKnause

(13,108 posts)
13. TPP
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 05:09 PM
Jan 2014

The final nail in the coffin, so to speak.

Am I the only one who feels helpless ?

We know the problems facing this country.

We know what caused the problems facing this country.

We know how to correct the problems facing this country.

We have years of data to back up what needs to be done to fix the problems facing this country.

Are the ACTIONS of the U.S. government beneficial, or harmful in fixing the majority of problems facing this country ?

) has the unemployment problem been solved
) has Wall Street been reined in
) have the loopholes in the tax code for corporations been closed
) have our elected representatives been stopped from participating in insider trading
) have corporations been given more rights than living breathing people
) have we blown our budget year after year, decade after decade on warmongering, invasions, coups, coup attempts, weapons manufacturing; and the list goes on and on.
) have we increased the amount of military bases we have scattered all over the globe
) have we allowed monopolies in this country
) have we allowed some corporations to do business in this country absolutely tax free
) have we given some corporations tax incentives to operate in this country
) are our trade policies fair
) do you consider the war on drugs a success
) are you concerned that 2.2 million of your fellow citizens are incarcerated
) does it bother you that our police have been militarized
) are we keeping up with our infrastructure needs
) are we advancing in educational fields
etc. etc. etc. THE LIST IS ENDLESS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


What is the fucking point of voting ???????????????????

This is insanity on a monumental scale and one of the most anti American things the U. S. government can do to the citizens of this country and the citizens of all the countries involved !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Different day, different year, different decade.

The charade continues.

Deny and Shred

(1,061 posts)
19. Fascinating similarity in our responses
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 07:56 PM
Jan 2014

If I could, I'd vote for it, fight for that candidate, etc. I wish I had the answer.

You articulated it more thoroughly, but I feel very much the same way - see my response previous to yours.

You are not alone. The problems are obvious, as are the solutions. If only some basic steps could be taken …

Peace

PSPS

(13,603 posts)
14. Obummer
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 05:10 PM
Jan 2014

Since these trade deals effectively allow corporations to override rules and laws enacted by elected representatives of governments, the entire concept of voting for someone to represent you is now passé. These trade agreements codify worldwide fascism.

 

FairWinds

(1,717 posts)
16. Who says that Congress . .
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 06:46 PM
Jan 2014

can't get anything done?
Who says bi-partisanship is dead?
Who says there is Congressional grid-lock?
Who says the atmosphere in Congress is toxic?
It's all sweetness and light when it comes to giving us the shaft !!

 

4dsc

(5,787 posts)
21. If this passes then vote every one of these fuckers out of office
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 10:12 PM
Jan 2014

WTF is wrong with these people who call themselves members of the Democratic Party.

DerekG

(2,935 posts)
23. Shouldn't this outrage take precedence over Christie's corruption?
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 10:58 PM
Jan 2014

The Donkeys and Elephants are building us a bridge to nowhere.

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