TPA VS. TPP - The Consequence of Non Transparency

by Kim D.

The fate of TPA is currently being debated in the House of Representatives and the outcry against its passage is quite passionate in social media. It's fair to say that due to a multitude of overwhelming poor decisions by the Obama administration, the American people are skeptical about giving him more power to further downgrade the country.  The president who claimed his administration would be the most transparent of all has been anything but and the current draft of the TPP is classified, fueling bipartisan opposition to passing the TPA. No one wants to again "pass" legislation in order to "find out what's in it."

What is #TPA? "A bipartisan betrayal of trust." It needs to be defeated and redone transparently: https://t.co/x7jS2cU2z6

— Michael Johns (@michaeljohns) June 12, 2015

"@tedcruz doesnt mention that even more secretive trade agreements like T-TIP or TiSA would also be fast-tracked under #TPA." Done w/ Cruz.

— Stubbornly Me. (@lybr3) June 12, 2015

WARNING! #OBAMA FAVORED #TPA Would Create ‘Pacific Union’ Akin to European Union~ CALL REP NOW http://t.co/kr8IXvSV9S pic.twitter.com/gCvAQcn6KS

— Dr. Lynn J Anderson (@andersonDrLJA) June 11, 2015

"Who’s in charge of the administration that decides to keep a trade treaty secret?" Thank you @RandPaul, no one else gives a damn #TPP #TPA

— RockPrincess (@Rockprincess818) June 11, 2015

Don't give up on Cruz, all #TPA does is give Obama the opportunity to negotiate. Congress has to approve EACH & Every one! #TPP @TheOneVoice

— Chuck Nellis (@ChuckNellis) June 10, 2015

At this point, in America, only the Obama administration and select few in Congress who have been able to read the 600-plus page agreement know the specifics of the "classified" TPP. Hints at what could be in such a trade agreement were published on June 3rd by Wikileaks which features 17 documents from TISA (trade in services agreement) setting off alarm bells of epic proportions.

WikiLeaks releases today 17 secret documents from the ongoing TISA (Trade In Services Agreement) negotiations which cover the United States, the European Union and 23 other countries including Turkey, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Pakistan, Taiwan & Israel -- which together comprise two-thirds of global GDP. "Services" now account for nearly 80 per cent of the US and EU economies and even in developing countries like Pakistan account for 53 per cent of the economy. While the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has become well known in recent months in the United States, the TISA is the larger component of the strategic TPP-TISA-TTIP 'T-treaty trinity'. All parts of the trinity notably exclude the 'BRICS' countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 

If the TPP even comes close to being as damaging as some fear, why on earth would any conservative member of Congress vote to support TPA which is essentially fast tracking trade deal laws in this country. Recently Senator Ted Cruz was grilled on this topic and here are his thoughts on why the passage of the TPA is a positive for America and its workers.