In
order to secure a new international trade agreement with Pacific
nations, the Obama administration appears willing to grant foreign
corporations the power to avoid U.S. laws.


This revelation came in the form of a leaked document posted online
by Citizens Trade Campaign. The material came from negotiations to
establish a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact and its
authenticity verified by Public Citizen.


According to the Huffington Post, which also reviewed the
document, foreign corporations operating within the U.S. could disregard
certain domestic requirements and regulations by appealing to an
international tribunal—that would have the power to overrule American
law.


“The outrageous stuff in this leaked text,” wrote Lori Wallach,
director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch, “may well be why U.S.
trade officials have been so extremely secretive about these past two
years of [trade] negotiations.”


Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Congress have
complained about the secretive talks and being kept in the dark. Senator
Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) has introduced legislation requiring the
administration to disclose details of the discussions.


Although Congress has not been privy to the negotiations, 600 U.S.
corporate advisers have enjoyed access to TPP texts and been permitted
to advise U.S. negotiators.

http://www.allgov.com/Top_Stories/ViewNews/Secret_Obama_Trade_Agreement_Would_Allow_Foreign_Corporations_to_Avoid_US_Laws_120615