The TTP is the Trans-Pacific Partnership. It's a massive free trade agreement being negotiated between Australia and 11 other Pacific Rim Nations and will involve 40% of the global economy. It's big.
Last October, Wikileaks[1] shone some light on this secretive deal. It suggests;
- Pharmaceutical corporations will be able to extend the length of their patients, preventing the production of cheaper medicines, while limiting the subsidy programs. This will increase the cost of basic medicines.
- Australians will be subject to foreign copyright laws. So they could be prosecuted and or even jailed for downloading their favourite TV program or music.
- The power of the US web surveillance will be extended. Local internet providers will be forced to give foreign law enforcers private user information. A draconian breach of present internet freedoms.
- Multinational corporations will have the right to sue our government over any laws or regulation change that impact on their right to profit. Threatening Australian food standards, environmental protection and workers rights. Australia already has an Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) agreement with Hong Kong. In 2011 Phillip Morris moved its operations there so it could sue the Australian government over its plain packaging laws. This will deter future governments from making important legislation protecting our environment and people.
Once this agreement has passed it will mean more money for Pharmaceutical corporations and IT products, less internet freedom, food standards compromised, environmental protection at risk and the ability of the government to govern responsibly diminished.
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[1] https://wikileaks.org/TTP-ip2
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