Is the TPP (trans pacific partnership) a good thing for our agricultural county, islands, or nation? I don't know enough about it as almost everything has been done in secret to this point. China is not part of these agreements yet they may have the most at risk, why? Seems Hawaii is well on board and has been since day one, is it because Obama is from Hawaii and this is his baby to get done? Anyway our island does host some of the tpp meetings at the wiakaloa hotel, I saw what some call hippies( my Ohana) sign waving and protesting this, why?
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TPP.
TMT.
Both are three letter abbreviations. Enough proof that they are somehow linked, and are therefore bad for endangered bugs not only on Mauna Kea but across the entire Pacific. The TPP needs to be brought to an immediate, grinding halt before clouds of dynamited swirling red dust fill the skies and waves of the Pacific.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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quote:
Originally posted by gypsy69
Is the TPP (trans pacific partnership) a good thing for our agricultural county, islands, or nation? I don't know enough about it as almost everything has been done in secret to this point. China is not part of these agreements yet they may have the most at risk, why? Seems Hawaii is well on board and has been since day one, is it because Obama is from Hawaii and this is his baby to get done? Anyway our island does host some of the tpp meetings at the wiakaloa hotel, I saw what some call hippies( my Ohana) sign waving and protesting this, why?
The hippies are all dead or in nursing homes. What you saw there are bums.
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Outside of the paranoid psychotic Punatic asylum, TPP was in progress between several other Pacific nations before the US joined and Obama somehow came to own it. The main thing TPP does is remove trade tariffs between the participating countries. It also standardizes labor practices, protects intellectual property rights and reduces environmental pollution processes. The details haven't been finalized, so that is why they are being worked on in secret.
"The Trans-Pacific Partnership Would Expand Market Access
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) offers tremendous opportunities for U.S. exporters. TPP members comprise a population of roughly 800 million and these dynamic economies generate nearly 40 percent of global GDP. The United States already has strong trade and investment ties to this region; we exported $697.8 billion in goods to all TPP markets in 2013, or about 44 percent of total U.S. exports, and are seeking through TPP to further deepen our economic relations.
Hawaii Depends on World Markets
Hawaii’s goods exports in 2013 totaled $598 million. Hawaii exported $438 million annually in goods to all TPP markets (2011-2013 average). During this period, 59 percent of Hawaii’s total goods exports went to the entire TPP region. The top three product categories exported to TPP-member economies in 2013 were transportation equipment, processed foods, and petroleum and coal products.
Goods Exports Support Jobs for Hawaii Workers: Jobs supported by Hawaii’s goods exports were about 6,000 in 2011 (latest available data) according to a USTR estimate based on U.S. Department of Commerce data. In 2011 (latest available data), approximately 5 percent of all manufacturing workers in Hawaii depended on exports for their jobs. Additional jobs also are supported by Hawaii’s exports of services, although there are no available data on this.
Goods Exports Sustain Hundreds of Hawaii Businesses: A total of 889 companies exported goods from Hawaii locations in 2012 (latest available data). Of those, 763 (85.8 percent) were small- and medium-sized enterprises, with fewer than 500 employees.
Hawaii Small and Medium-sized Firms Will Benefit From Trans-Pacific Partnership FTA Provisions
Small- and medium-sized firms generated nearly half or 46.8 percent of Hawaii’s total exports of merchandise in 2012 (latest available data). Small- and medium-sized firms benefit from the tariff-elimination provisions of free trade agreements, as well as many of the other commitments in the agreement. Trade facilitation, for example, is vital to small- and medium-sized firms, as is enforcement of their intellectual property rights, streamlining of regulatory issues, and other commitments."
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Well written replies so far, thanks for the positive twists. Really i was not expecting many positives or any real understanding to the subject anyway. I am under the impression that Hawaii would have a lot to gain by these TPP agreements, for the Asian market opens up a bit and we should be able to sell or export more produce?. If so, maybe this would be good for Puna and other agricultural districts bringing more jobs or cheaper produce, Yet I read about lost jobs and lower wages possibly coming from these TPP agreements? CHina is making several new islands with some real purpose and seems to be very upset about these agreements why?.
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Gypsy: sign waving and protesting this, why?
As no one has addressed his question as of this writing, I will make a few small comments.
-a few sections have been leaked, and include the ability of corporations to sue gov'ts that somehow restrict "potential profits" in a court established by the TPP.
-Extension of copyright protections and pharma patents well beyond current limitations, preventing member countries from producing generics of popular drugs.
-"Although it is called a "free trade" agreement, the TPP is not mainly about trade. Of TPP's 29 draft chapters, only five deal with traditional trade issues. One chapter would provide incentives to offshore jobs to low-wage countries. Many would impose limits on government policies that we rely on in our daily lives for safe food, a clean environment, and more. Our domestic federal, state and local policies would be required to comply with TPP rules."
(source for quote: http://www.citizen.org/TPP )
-dwajs
-dwajs
Thank you David and pahoated for your replies, and helping me understand the TPP agreements better. Not sure why they would need their (TPP) rules, regulations, or laws to trump our county, state, or governments? Or Why China would not be part of this pacific trade agreement?. Where do our island grocery stores get most of its produce currently, Chile,Guam, maybe the mainland or mexico? Now with the TPP agreement wouldn't we be getting more options, also Hawaiian made or grown products should have a stronger market, yes or no?. Is this a strong rub for big business only or for all small, medium, and big business alike?. Also Why does Hawaii support it so stronly and have the controversial secret meetings, I guess its some kind of tourism?.
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the ability of corporations to sue gov'ts that somehow restrict "potential profits"
This already happened under NAFTA; see California and MTBE.
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If TPP is so great, it should be published and available to the public, not a big secret.
This from the country club Republican Barack Obama.(Sometimes known as Mr Transparency).
I'd sure like to try and understand what it might mean in particular for Hawaii and Hawai'i.
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