Obama notifies Congress of intention to sign TPP agreement

Source:Xinhua Published: 2015-11-6 8:58:46

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/951183.shtml

US President Barack Obama on Thursday notified Congress that he intended to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), hours after the long-awaited text of the trade deal was released.

The release of the text came exactly one month after trade ministers of the United States and 11 other Pacific Rim countries reached an agreement on the TPP in Atlanta, the US state of Georgia.

That would kick off a 90-day congressional review period that must elapse before the president formally signs the trade agreement, according to the trade promotion authority (TPA) legislation passed earlier this year.

In a letter sent to the Congress, Obama said he was pleased to notify lawmakers of his intention to enter into the TPP agreement.

The TPP will generate export opportunities, help create jobs in the United States, and help American consumers save money while offering them more choices, Obama said in the letter.

While the Obama administration has touted the Pacific trade deal as a means to create jobs and write the rules of international trade, labor unions, environmental groups, consumer and heath care organizations across the country have come out against it out of various concerns.

"From what we have reviewed so far, we are deeply disappointed that our policy recommendations and those of our trade reform allies in the environmental, consumer, public heath, global development and business sectors were largely ignored," powerful union AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said Thursday.

"The hardworking families of the AFL-CIO will join with our allies to defeat the TPP," he said in a statement.

The newly-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, reserved judgment, citing that he hadn't read the text of the agreement.

"I don't know the answer to what my position is on a trade agreement I have not even yet read, because we just got it this morning," Ryan said Thursday at a press briefing.

"We have a lot of work to do to review this agreement. And we do not rubber-stamp anything around here, let alone trade agreements," he said.

Before the release of the text, House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin said, "The upcoming 90-day period was established to facilitate an intensive and informed debate over the merits of TPP as negotiated, as well as the necessity for any modifications to the agreement, before the agreement is signed."

"We are organizing a series of in-depth public hearings to assess the merits of the proposed agreement, zeroing in on those issues that are of particular importance or concern to us and our fellow Democratic colleagues," Levin said in a statement on Wednesday.

The earliest date for a final TPP vote in US Congress would be in March 2016 when US presidential election heats up, according to trade experts.

It's unclear whether the Obama administration could get enough votes to pass the controversial trade deal.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said last month that she's "not in favor of" the TPP deal, noting that she doesn't believe the deal will meet her "high bar" for creating good American jobs, raising wages and advancing national security.

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Comment by Maria De Wind on November 7, 2015 at 1:59pm: Here is what Bernie Sanders says the TTP will do for the United States and beyond. Folks, this may be the most important political moment in our history. Pay attention and start making waves. THE TRANS-PACIFIC TRADE (TPP) AGREEMENT MUST BE DEFEATED
10 Ways that TPP would hurt Working Families
by Senator Bernie Sander

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/the-trans-pacific-trade-tpp-...

Comment by Maria De Wind on November 7, 2015 at 1:57pm: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/stop-the-trans-pacific.fb49?source...

Stop The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

Petition by Peter Becker

To be delivered to The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate

We urge Congress to vote no on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). An agreement like the TPP should be negotiated in the full light of day. America must reserve the right to determine our own consumer, health, safety, labor, privacy, and environmental regulations. Do not surrender our rights to trans-national corporations.

There are currently 29,479 signatures. NEW goal - We need 30,000 signatures!

Comment by DTOM on November 7, 2015 at 5:41am

Via: http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Treaties-and-International-Law/01-Treaties-...

Treaties and International Law

Text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership

The text of the Agreement was released by TPP Parties on 5 November 2015 and can be accessed by chapter below. The text will continue to undergo legal review and will be translated into French and Spanish language versions prior to signature.

Preamble [PDF, 21KB]
1. Initial Provisions and General Definitions [PDF, 61KB]
- The Chapter includes the following Annex:
  - Annex 1-A: Party-Specific Definitions
2. National Treatment and Market Access for Goods [PDF, 520KB]
- The Chapter includes the following Annexes:
  - Annex 2-A: National Treatment and Import and Export Restrictions
    
    Annex 2-B: Remanufactured Goods
    
    Annex 2-C: Export Duties, Taxes or Other Charges
    
    Annex 2-D: Tariff Elimination
- Party-specific Annexes to the Chapter:
  - 2-D: Australia General Notes to Tariff Schedule [PDF, 21KB]
    
    2-D: Australia Tariff Elimination Schedule [PDF, 4.8MB]
    
    2-D: Brunei General Notes to Tariff Schedule [PDF, 21KB]
    
    2-D: Brunei Tariff Elimination Schedule [PDF, 5.1MB]
    
    2-D: Canada General Notes to Tariff Schedule [PDF, 35KB]
    
    2-D: Canada Tariff Elimination Schedule [PDF, 2.9MB]
    
    2-D: Canada Appendix A Tariff Rate Quotas [PDF, 142KB]
    
    2-D: Canada Appendix B Appendix between Japan and Canada on Motor V... [PDF, 81KB]
    
    2-D: Chile General Notes to Tariff Schedule [PDF, 25KB]
    
    2-D: Chile Tariff Elimination Schedule [PDF, 4.1MB]
    
    2-D: Japan General Notes to Tariff Schedule [PDF, 98KB]
    
    2-D: Japan Tariff Elimination Schedule [PDF, 1.6MB]
    
    2-D: Japan Appendix A Tariff Rate Quotas [PDF, 305KB]
    
    2-D: Japan Appendix B-1 Agricultural Safeguard Measures [PDF, 118KB]
    
    2-D: Japan Appendix B-2 Forest Good Safeguard Measure [PDF, 39KB]
    
    2-D: Japan Appendix C Tariff Differentials [PDF, 24KB]
    
    2-D: Japan Appendix D Appendix between Japan and the United States ... [PDF, 128KB]
    
    2-D: Japan Appendix E Appendix between Japan and Canada on Motor Ve... [PDF, 67KB]
    
    2-D: Malaysia General Notes to Tariff Schedule [PDF, 18KB]
    
    2-D. Malaysia Tariff Elimination Schedule [PDF, 4.9MB]
    
    2-D: Malaysia Appendix A Tariff Rate Quotas [PDF, 48KB]
    
    2-D: Mexico General Notes to Tariff Schedule [PDF, 30KB]
    
    2-D. Mexico Tariff Elimination Schedule [PDF, 3.6MB]
    
    2-D: Mexico Appendix A, B and C Tariff Rate Quotas and Tariff Diffe... [PDF, 88KB]
    
    2-D: New Zealand General Notes to Tariff Schedule [PDF, 17KB]
    
    2-D. New Zealand Tariff Elimination Schedule [PDF, 3.9MB]
    
    2-D: Peru General Notes to Tariff Schedule [PDF, 18KB]
    
    2-D: Peru Tariff Elimination Schedule [PDF, 2.7MB]
    
    2-D: Singapore General Notes to Tariff Schedule [PDF, 10KB]
    
    2-D: Singapore Tariff Elimination Schedule [PDF, 2MB]
    
    2-D: United States General Notes to Tariff Schedule [PDF, 35KB]
    
    2-D: United States Tariff Elimination Schedule [PDF, 6.5MB]
    
    2-D: United States Appendix A Tariff Rate Quotas [PDF, 278KB]
    
    2-D: United States Appendix B Agricultural Safeguard Measures [PDF, 68KB]
    
    2-D: United States Appendix C Tariff Differentials [PDF, 144KB]
    
    2-D: United States Appendix D Motor Vehicle Trade [PDF, 133KB]
    
    2-D: United States Appendix E Earned Import Allowance Program [PDF, 20KB]
    
    2-D: Viet Nam General Notes to Tariff Schedule [PDF, 34KB]
    
    2-D. Viet Nam Tariff Elimination Schedule [PDF, 2.4MB]
    
    2-D: Viet Nam Appendix A Tariff Rate Quotas [PDF, 32KB]
3. Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures [PDF, 155KB]
- This Chapter includes the following Annexes:
  - Annex 3-A: Other Arrangements
    
    Annex 3-B: Minimum Data Requirements
    
    Annex 3-C: Exceptions to Article 3.11 (De Minimis)
- Annex to the Chapter:
  - Annex 3-D: Product Specific Rules of Origin [PDF, 702KB]
    
    Appendix 1 to Annex: 3-D: Provisions related to the Product-Specifi... [PDF, 28KB]
4. Textiles and Apparel [PDF, 70KB]
- Annexes to the Chapter:
  - Annex 4-A: Textiles and Apparel Product-Specific Rules of Origin [PDF, 84KB]
    
    Appendix 1 to Annex 4-A: Short Supply List of Products [PDF, 172KB]
5. Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation [PDF, 59KB]
6. Trade Remedies [PDF, 52KB]
- The Chapter includes the following Annex:
  - Annex 6-A: Practices Relating to Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings
7. Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures [PDF, 92KB]
8. Technical Barriers to Trade [PDF, 198KB]
- The Chapter includes the following Annexes:
  - Annex 8-A: Wine and Distilled Spirits
    
    Annex 8-B: Information and Communications Technology Products
    
    Annex 8-C: Pharmaceuticals
    
    Annex 8-D: Cosmetics
    
    Annex 8-E: Medical Devices
    
    Annex 8-F: Proprietary Formulas for Pre-packaged Foods and Food Additives
    
    Annex 8-G: Organic Products
9. Investment [PDF, 262KB]
- This Chapter includes the following Annexes:
  - Annex 9-A: Customary International Law
  - Annex 9-B: Expropriation
  - Annex 9-C: Expropriation Relating to Land
  - Annex 9-D: Service of Documents on a Party Under Section B (Investor State Dispute Settlement)
  - Annex 9-E: Transfers
  - Annex 9-F: DL-600
  - Annex 9-G: Public Debt
  - Annex 9-H
  - Annex 9-I: Non-Conforming Measures Ratchet Mechanism
  - Annex 9-J: Submission of a Claim to Arbitration
  - Annex 9-K: Submission of Certain Claims for Three Years After Entry into Force
  - Annex 9-L: Investment Agreements
- See country-specific Annexes to the Agreement
10. Cross-Border Trade in Services [PDF, 126KB]
- The Chapter includes the following Annexes:
  - Annex 10-A: Professional Services
    
    Annex 10-B: Express Delivery Services
    
    Annex 10-C: Non-Conforming Measures Ratchet Mechanism
- See the country-specific Annexes to the Agreement
11. Financial Services [PDF, 251KB]
- This Chapter includes the following Annexes:
  - Annex 11-A: Cross-Border Trade
    
    Annex 11-B: Specific Commitments
    
    Annex 11-C: Non-Conforming Measures Ratchet Mechanism
    
    Annex 11-D: Authorities Responsible For Financial Services
    
    Annex 11-E
- See the country-specific Annexes to the Agreement
12. Temporary Entry for Business Persons [PDF, 43KB]
- Party-specific Annexes to the Chapter:
  - Annex 12-A. Temporary Entry for Business Persons
    
    12-A. Australia Temporary Entry for Business Persons [PDF, 39KB]
    
    12-A. Brunei Temporary Entry for Business Persons [PDF, 48KB]
    
    12-A. Canada Temporary Entry for Business Persons [PDF, 97KB]
    
    12-A. Chile Temporary Entry for Business Persons [PDF, 48KB]
    
    12-A. Japan Temporary Entry for Business Persons [PDF, 69KB]
    
    12-A. Malaysia Temporary Entry for Business Persons [PDF, 53KB]
    
    12-A. Mexico Temporary Entry for Business Persons [PDF, 57KB]
    
    12-A. New Zealand Temporary Entry for Business Persons [PDF, 42KB]
    
    12-A. Peru Temporary Entry for Business Persons [PDF, 55KB]
    
    12-A. Singapore Temporary Entry for Business Persons [PDF, 19KB]
    
    12-A. Viet Nam Temporary Entry for Business Persons [PDF, 39KB]
13. Telecommunications [PDF, 125KB]
- This Chapter includes the following Annexes:
  - Annex 13-A: Rural Telephone Suppliers – United States
    
    Annex 13-B: Rural Telephone Suppliers - Peru
14. Electronic Commerce [PDF, 60KB]
15. Government Procurement [PDF, 130KB]
- Party-specific Annexes to the Chapter:
  - Annex 15-A. Government Procurement
    
    15-A. Australia Government Procurement [PDF, 102KB]
    
    15-A. Brunei Government Procurement [PDF, 52KB]
    
    15-A. Canada Government Procurement [PDF, 117KB]
    
    15-A. Chile Government Procurement [PDF, 45KB]
    
    15-A. Japan Government Procurement [PDF, 122KB]
    
    15-A. Malaysia Government Procurement [PDF, 120KB]
    
    15-A. Mexico Government Procurement [PDF, 114KB]
    
    15-A. New Zealand Government Procurement [PDF, 61KB]
    
    15-A. Peru Government Procurement [PDF, 157KB]
    
    15-A. Singapore Government Procurement [PDF, 53KB]
    
    15-A. United States Government Procurement [PDF, 72KB]
    
    15-A. Viet Nam Government Procurement [PDF, 244KB]
16. Competition Policy [PDF, 44KB]
- This Chapter includes the following Annex:
  - Annex 16-A: Application of Article 16.2, Article 16.3 and Article 16.4 to Brunei Darussalam
17. State-Owned Enterprises and Designated Monopolies [PDF, 221KB]
- This Chapter includes the following Annexes:
  - Annex 17-A: Threshold Calculation
    
    Annex 17-B: Process for Developing Information Concerning State-Owned Enterprises and Designated Monopolies
    
    Annex 17-C: Further Negotiations
    
    Annex 17-D: Application to Sub-Central State-Owned Enterprises
    
    Annex 17-E: Singapore
    
    Annex 17-F: Malaysia
    
    Annex IV: Non-Conforming Activities
- See country-specific Annexes to the Agreement
18. Intellectual Property [PDF, 411KB]
- This Chapter includes the following Annexes:
  - Annex 18-A: Annex to Article 18.7.2 (International Agreements)
    
    Annex 18-B: Annex to Article 18.50 (Protection of Undisclosed Test or Other Data) and Article 18.52 (Biologics)
    
    Annex 18-C: Annex to Article 18.50 (Protection of Undisclosed Test or Other Data) and Article 18.52 (Biologics)
    
    Annex 18-D: Annex to Article 18.46 (Patent Term Adjustments for Patent Office Delays), Article 18.48 (Patent Term Adjustment for Unreasonable Curtailment), Article 18.50 (Protection of Undisclosed Test or Other Data) and Article 18.52 (Biologics)
    
    Annex 18-E: Annex to Section J (Internet Service Providers)
    
    Annex 18-F: Annex to Section J (Internet Service Providers)
19. Labour [PDF, 73KB]
20. Environment [PDF, 170KB]
- This Chapter includes the following Annexes:
  - Annex 20-A
    
    Annex 20-B
21. Cooperation and Capacity Building [PDF, 27KB]
22. Competitiveness and Business Facilitation [PDF, 20KB]
23. Development [PDF, 33KB]
24. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises [PDF, 21KB]
25. Regulatory Coherence [PDF, 39KB]
26. Transparency and Anti-Corruption [PDF, 88KB]
- This Chapter includes the following Annex:
  - Annex 26-A Transparency and Procedural Fairness for Pharmaceutical Products and Medical Devices
27. Administrative and Institutional Provisions [PDF, 34KB]
28. Dispute Settlement [PDF, 105KB]
29. Exceptions and General Provisions [PDF, 62KB]
30. Final Provisions [PDF, 29KB]

Zip file of all 30 Chapters (excluding Annexes) [ZIP, 3.15MB]

Comment by DTOM on November 7, 2015 at 5:40am: Trans-Pacific Partnership Full Text Released

TheAmazingYeti

posted on Nov, 5 2015 @ 07:57 AM

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread1091293/pg1

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has the text here I haven't started digging into yet but I woke and and found this posted online and wanted to get it on ATS ASAP!!

Some interesting things so far....

Each Party shall provide procedures... that enable a copyright owner that has made a legally sufficient claim of copyright infringement to obtain expeditiously from an Internet Service Provider information in the provider’s possession identifying the alleged infringer, in cases in which that information is sought for the purpose of protecting or enforcing that copyright.

An Internet Service Provider that removes or disables access to material in good faith under subparagraph (a) shall be exempt from any liability for having done so,

---