Free trade agreements

Protests at TPP-signing

The Pacific TPP creates, such as the transatlantic TTIP, a massive free-trade area of the one longed for by others feared. At the signing ceremony, there were now sharp protests.

The Transpacific partnership (TPP) is in new Zealand’s Auckland solemnly been signed. The ceremony was broadcast live on television. In October had twelve Pacific countries the largest free trade zone in the world, agreed.

In addition to the economic powers United States and Japan are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, new Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Together these countries for around 40 percent of global economic output. However, missing China, the second largest economy in the world. In the free trade zone should be tariffs and trade barriers largely be abolished.

Still, not all hurdles

US President Barack Obama welcomed the agreement and urged the Congress to, “as quickly as possible” to ratify. The Transpacific free trade agreement “strengthens our leadership abroad and supports jobs here in the United States,” said Obama in Washington.

Opponents of globalization fear, however, the Pact could be especially multinational corporations serve, while workers at a Disadvantage would. They criticize also the negotiations conducted behind closed doors for the agreement. Thousands of demonstrators blocked in Auckland the streets around the Sky-City Convention center, where the festivities took place. They moved in with whistles and drums through the streets.

With the signing begins the ratification process. Each state had the agreement without Modification within two years of approval, said new Zealand trade Minister Todd McClay. It is unclear whether this succeeds. In some countries, stirs criticism because of the worsening of workers ‘ rights, environmental protection and access to medicines.

rb/gri (afp, ap, dpa, rtr)