Undermining Local Democracy
Fast Track, the TPP and Your Community
11.1.13
Local efforts to put in place bans and other measures as well as local efforts to fight liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals could be overturned or become vulnerable to challenge under the proposed trade deal.
Congress is considering giving “fast track” authority to the administration that would speed up this trade deal. If Congress approves fast track, it could not amend the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to protect the right of local communities to pass laws that protect their families and environment.
Leaked documents revealed that the TPP would give foreign companies the right to sue federal, state and local governments that enacted safeguards that the companies didn’t like. This “NAFTA on steroids” TPP provision would allow foreign corporations to sue for monetary damages at international trade tribunals if local rules infringed on their investment rights and profits.
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