Time to Dump the TPP?

This week, the co-leaders of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade sent a letter to President Obama complaining that Japan and Canada refuse to make satisfactory cuts to the tariffs those nations charge at the water’s edge. Subcommittee members argue that this creates an unfair and unlevel playing field for U.S. goods exported to those two countries under the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. The letter was sent to the President by Subcommittee Chairman Devin Nunes and Ranking Member Charles Rangel, along with 138 other House members. Nunes is a California Republican; and Rangel, a New York Democrat. Their letter conveys their concerns over the status of agriculture-market access negotiations with Japan and Canada in TPP negotiations—especially the effort by these countries to stop short of the complete elimination of tariffs charged against U.S. exports. The letter to Obama states in part: “When Japan joined these negotiations, it agreed that the elimination of tariffs is a key feature of the agreement. . . . Unfortunately, Japan’s current position falls far short of acceptability.” The letter also says: “Specifically, Japan is seeking to exempt numerous tariff lines from complete elimination with the United States. If accepted, this unprecedented and objectionable offer would significantly limit access for U.S. farmers and ranchers to the Japanese market. . .” The letter goes on to say: “Furthermore, caving to Japan’s demands would set a damaging precedent, compromising the U.S. negotiating position with future TPP members.” But the subcommittee also fears that the European Union will be encouraged to make unacceptably-weak offers to the U.S. in another trade scheme. That other pending trade deal is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. It involves the U.S. and the entire EU, with its 28 member nations. The letter curiously states that if the other nations won’t bend to the will of the U.S., then congressional support for both trade deals will be “undermined.” Regarding the TPP, the letter’s signers also are troubled by Canada’s refusal to drop all tariffs. The letter to Obama concludes: “We urge you to hold Japan and Canada to the same high standards as other TPP partners. Otherwise, Congressional support for a final TPP agreement will be jeopardized. . . . We owe our farmers and ranchers the best deal possible.” Looking at the big picture, however, is it possible that the best deal would be no deal at all? Without the TPP, instead of prodding Japan, Canada and other allies to lower their tariffs, the U.S. could raise its own tariffs to roughly the same level. That’s what sovereign nations do; they set their own policy and leave it to other nations to pursue their own destinies. Besides, getting Japan fully embedded into the TPP is a goal of the secretive Trilateral Commission, which many see as an unsavory organization dedicated to furthering corporate monopolies—much to the detriment of the working class. And why should a rice-growing nation like Japan allow U.S.-grown rice into its markets when Japan already grows enough to feed its entire population? Japan even exports its rice surpluses. So, voiding all tariffs and dumping foreign rice into Japan could severely damage that nation’s domestic farm economy. The grand irony is that if Canada, Japan and other nations keep refusing to abolish all tariffs, then U.S. congressional support will fade. And if the U.S. would stop treating these trade deals like they’re holy gospel, then America could: • Re-install its own tariffs • Create a level playing field • And pursue a nationalist trade policy, not an internationalist policy. Perhaps, in the end, that means that the best TPP is no TPP. Support Indymedia! Donate USD: http://nnn.is/donate-dollars Donate BTC: http://nnn.is/donate-bitcoin Download your free Next News "Heroes & Villains" Poster here: http://nextnewsnetwork.com/the-2013-heroes-villains-posters LIVE: http://NextNewsNetwork.com Facebook: http://Facebook.com/NextNewsNet Twitter: http://Twitter.com/NextNewsNet Sub: http://NNN.is/the_new_media Meet the Next News Team: http://youtu.be/2QnNKwQ2WkY Hashtag: #N3 #DC