Written by David Starr   

U.S. President Barack Obama has praised the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with glowing phrases; even using the word progressive.

And according to a propagandistic pamphlet online, ("Trans-Pacific Partnership - unlocking opportunity throughout Asia Pacific"), U.S. workers would benefit from the TPP, and made-in-the-USA exports would promote homegrown jobs and economic growth. It would also "enforce fundamental labor rights, promote strong environmental protection" and "help American small businesses benefit from trade."

But strong criticism has come from the Left/liberal side of the political spectrum. The TPP has been called NAFTA on steroids. Under NAFTA, writes Andrew Raposa (Counterpunch, 3/25/2015), "700,000 jobs have been outsourced." Additionally, "during the 90s, the world was made safe for billionaires." There has been "unaccountable power of corporations to block nations [wanting to use regulation]. This led to misery for poorer nations." NAFTA "produced massive trade deficits, joblessness and an increased downward spiral of living standards."

Public Citizen put out an online pamphlet entitled "TransPacific Partnership: Job Loss, Lower Wages and Higher Drug Prices," which states that the TPP could "offshore American jobs, increase income inequality, jack up the cost of medicines, attack our environmental and health safeguards, and roll back Wall Street reforms."

There is secrecy surrounding the TPP. Only corporate "advisers" and members of Congress can view it. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is putting on the pressure to have its contents revealed to the public. Other Democrats are also in opposition to the TPP's secrecy, not to mention the TPP itself.

There are 12 nations set up to be signatories to the TPP: United States, European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Peru, Chile, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, and Vietnam. The U.S. would be leading the TPP and in turn impose U.S.-made policies on it. This can only cause other member nations such as in the "Third World" in furthering their status as market satellites.

The strong opposition to the TPP has offended Obama, with his progressive credentials under scrutiny. But the TPP is itself offensive and certainly not progressive. And with the GOP siding with him, Obama isn't showing how progressive he is at all.

David Starr writes on various issues, both national and international.
© 2015