September 17, 2016

Germans demonstrate against international trade deals

On Saturday, September 17, 2016, more than 320,000 German citizens of all ages demonstrated in coordinated actions in seven major German cities against proposed European Community 'free trade' agreements with Canada (CETA) and the USA (TTIP).

Organized by a number of unions, environmental and globalization-critical organizations, the protests allowed people to show their opposition to the secretly negotiated agreements that would weaken environmental standards, workers' rights and democratic decision-making through possible legal action by big corporations.

"Fair World Trade, not CETA & TTIP" WLOE Photo, Frankfurt, Sept. 17, 2016

Although there has been so much opposition in Europe to the US-European TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) that even major politicians in Germany think it is doomed, the Canadian agreement is another story. 

For the European negotiations with Canada are complete, and the treaty will come before the European Parliament and governing Council for acceptance this fall. If this happens, many parts of the CETA Agreement could take force immediately, even before the final ratification by the EU member states.

We at the WLOE Internet Project oppose the ratification of CETA because of its lack of progress on environmental, climate and worker protection measures, while the rights of corporations are strengthened and regulations are to be aimed at improving market conditions. Thus investors would get a comprehensive right to sue if they do not feel "fair and justly" handled in another country. What that means exactly is not defined.

Thus there is the danger that, for example, necessary progress in climate protection or the responsibility of coporations' transparency when it comes to human rights could be reasons for corporate legal action.

In addition, the formulation of government requirements in all areas should be "as simple as possible." If these can meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015 is not mentioned. We see here more hurdles created for a sustainable and globally just development.

-- WLOE, from Bonn, Germany

see also:
Hundreds of Thousands March in Germany Against TTIP and CETA
September 17, 2016 by Common Dreams by Jon Queally, staff writer

"Hundreds of thousands took to city streets across Germany on Saturday as they marched against a pair of corporate-backed trade deals they say will undermine democracy, attack workers and local economies, and accelerate the threats posed by corporate hegemony and global warming.

Taking aim at both the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), European Union deals with the United States and Canada respectively, opponents say the agreements are not really concerned with expanding trade but rather increasing corporate power.

"CETA and TTIP threaten environmental and consumer protection for millions of people in Europe and North America," said Jennifer Morgan, co-executive director of Greenpeace International.  "These agreements will weaken food safety laws, environmental legislation, banking regulations and undermine the sovereign powers of nations."
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