In the third and final episode in our Trans-Pacific Partnership series, we take a look at the TPP Environment Chapter; would the treaty actually improve enforcement of environmental laws around the world?

 

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Trans-Pacific Partnership Text

• Full Text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Office of the US Trade Representative, November 5, 2015.

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Hearing Highlighted in this Episode

TPP Issue Analysis - Environment Chapter, House Ways and Means Committee (Democrats), November 17, 2015.

Watch on YouTube

Witnesses

• Dr. Joshua Meltzer

  • Senior Fellow in Global Economy and Development, Brookings Institution
  • Digital Task Force Member at the Atlantic Council
    • June 2015 – January 2016 (8 months)
    • Washington D.C. Metro Area
    • "Provided advice on the digital trade issues between the U.S. and the EU"
  • Subject Matter Expert for the E15 Initiative, World Trade Organization
    • "Expert appointment to the E15 working group developing an agenda for the WTO on climate change issues
  • Former trade negotiator with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  • Former diplomat to the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C., specializing in trade and climate change issues.

• Alexander von Bismarck

  • Executive Director, Environmental Investigation Agency
    • "An international campaigning organization committed to investigating and exposing environmental crime"
  • Served in United Nations and World Bank

• Ilana Soloman

  • Responsible Trade Program Director, Sierra Club

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Environment Chapter Highlights

• Article 20.6: Governments "shall cooperate to address matters" related to pollution from ships

  • Article 20.12: "Cooperation" includes "dialogues, workshops, seminars, conferences.. technical assistance, the sharing of best practices on policies and procedures, and the exchange of experts."
  • Cooperative activities "are subject to the availability of funds" and the participating governments "shall decide, on a case-by-case basis, the funding of cooperative activities."

• Article 20.7: Each government "shall" create sanctions for violations of environmental law that "may include" a right to bring action against the violator for damages or injunctive relief.

• Article 20.10: "Corporate Social Responsibility": Each government "should encourage" companies to "adopt voluntarily" standards to protect the environment.

  • The voluntary standards "should be designed in a manner that maximises their environmental benefits and avoids the creation of unnecessary barriers to trade."

• Article 20.13: Each government "shall promote and encourage the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity"

  • The governments "shall cooperate" to address "matters of mutual interest"; 'cooperation' means "exchanging information".

• Article 20.15: "Transition to a Low Emissions and Resilient Economy"

  • Says the governments recognize that the transition requires collective action
  • Governments "shall cooperate to address matters of joint or common interest"

• Article 20.16: Each government "shall seek to operate a fisheries management system that regulates marine wild capture fishing and that is designed to prevent overfishing and overcapacity..."

  • Each government "shall promote the long-term conservation of sharks, marine turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals, through the implementation and effective enforcement of conservation and management measures."
  • "No Party shall grant or maintain any of the following subsidies..." that negatively affect fish stocks.
    • Gives the governments three years to change their laws to comply.

• Article 20.17: The governments "commit to promote conservation and to combat the illegal take of, and illegal trade in, wild fauna and flora.

  • The parties "shall exchange information", "undertake joint activities" and "endeavor to implement... resolutions."
  • Such measures "shall include sanctions, penalties... that can act as a deterrent to such trade."
  • "Each Party retains the right to make decisions regarding the allocation of administrative, investigatory, and enforcement resources."

• Article 20.23: Environmental issues are eligible for the Investor State Dispute Settlement tribunals

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Additional Reading

• Article: TransCanada is suing the U.S. over rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline. The U.S. Might Lose. by Todd Tucker, Washington Post, January 8, 2016.

• Article: White House Releases Text of Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal by Vicki Needham, The Hill, November 5, 2015.

• Article: The Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Accord Explained by Kevin Granville, New York Times, October 5, 2015.

• Report: The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Negotiations and Issues for Congress by Ian Fergusson, Mark McMinimy, and Brock Williams, Congressional Research Service, March 20, 2015.

• Article: Geo-engineering: Climate fixes could harm billions by David Shukman, BBC News, November 26, 2014.

• Article: Michael Froman and the Revolving Door by Felix Salon, Reuters, December 11, 2009.

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Music Presented in This Episode

• Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)

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Cover Art

Design by Only Child Imaginations