One of the least discussed and least reported issues is the Obama administration’s effort to bring the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement to the forefront, an oppressive plurilateral US-led free trade agreement currently being negotiated with several Pacific Rim countries, including Malaysia.
Six hundred US corporate advisors have negotiated and had input into the TPP, and the proposed draft text has not been made available to the public, the press or policymakers.
The level of secrecy surrounding the agreements is unparalleled – paramilitary teams scatter outside the premise of each round of discussions while helicopters loom overhead – media outlets impose a near-total blackout of reportage on the subject and US Senator Ron Wyden, the Chair of the Congressional Committee with jurisdiction over TPP, was denied access to the negotiation texts.
“The
majority of Congress is being kept in the dark as to the substance of
the TPP negotiations, while representatives of US corporations — like
Halliburton, Chevron, PhaRMA, Comcast and the Motion Picture Association
of America — are being consulted and made privy to details of the
agreement,” said Wyden, in a floor statement to the US Congress.In addition to the United States and Malaysia, the countries participating in the negotiations include Australia,
