Media Coverage of San Diego TPP Negotiations

By
CTC
– July 10, 2012Posted in: Breaking Issues
San Diego News
City News Service: Pacific Rim Trade Zone Talks Begin in SD: Opponents Peacefully Protest Proposed Trade Deal that Would Send Jobs to Low-Wage Countries
(Published in multiple outlets; two examples below)
“This not only contributes to the nation’s severe unemployment problems, but it pushes down wages and benefits for the jobs we have left,” said Lorena Gonzalez, chief executive officer of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council. “That means a smaller tax base to support our schools, our infrastructure, and other critical services.”
AP: Pacific Rim Trade Talks Open in San Diego
(Published in multiple outlets; three examples below)
Some negotiators “are lapdogs for the big corporations,” Ernest Verano, 49, an employee of a San Diego pharmaceutical company whose table displayed a handwritten sign criticizing the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Opponents Protest Trans-Pacific Free Trade Zone Talks
Opponents say the proposed trade deal would send jobs to low-wage countries, attack environmental and consumer safety standards, and expand the deregulation of banks, hedge funds and insurance companies, among other things.
Free Trade Negotiations Sneak Up on San Diego
San Diego Congressman Bob Filner has expressed dismay that the negotiations are not more public and noted that he voted against the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.
Trans-Pacific Trade Zone Protest
A coalition of groups affiliated with the Occupy San Diego movement and organized labor say they will protest outside the hotel and a “Fair Trade Not Free Trade” rally led by the San Diego and Imperial County Labor Council will begin at noon in an adjacent park.
Occupy, Internet Freedom Groups Join Protests against “NAFTA of the Pacific”
“The administration has done everything it can to keep this under wraps, and we see that as a recipe for a bad deal,” he told In These Times.  “We’re calling for the TPP to come out of the shadows.”
Pacific Trade Talks Come to San Diego
(Published twice under different headlines)
“We’re not opposed to trade but we want it to be fair trade,” she said. “Our goal should be that the regulations that are put into trade agreements should bring the rest of the world up and not down.”
Big Tobacco to Participate in Trans-Pacific Trade Talks in San Diego
Activists from Center for Policy Analysis on Trade and Health say their motives are clear; to “circumvent tobacco control regulations in the U.S.”
Protests Planned for Trans-Pacific Trade Talks
Opponents claim the agreement could endanger workers in underdeveloped nations as well as the environment in areas where there are little or no environmental regulations.
Reps. Filner, Davis Call for Transparency in TPP Trade Negotiations
Two Members of San Diego’s Congressional delegation are among 130 Representatives who have signed a letter calling for an end to the secrecy surrounding negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Agreement.
Conference Sparks Protests Over Proposed Free Trade Pact
The Teamsters union is ready to support only a treaty that will “protect workers rights and their right to organize.”
Rallies Held Against Pacific Rim Trade Agreement
According to the group, the free-trade agreement will cause more jobs to leave the United States.  They contend the talks are being held in secret.
TPP “very bad for Americans”
The Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP is “very bad for Americans,” says Kristen Smith, a member of Women Occupy San Diego.
Critics Say Trans-Pacific Trade Deal Would Allow Corporations to Override Environmental, Labor Laws
Critics call the multi-country free trade agreement “NAFTA on steroids,” and say it will allow corporations to override environmental, labor and consumer protections.
About 200 Protest Against Trans-Pacific Partnership
About two hundred people banging pots and pans marched downtown from the Civic Center Plaza to the Hilton Bayfront Hotel Saturday morning to protest a meeting of negotiators working to craft the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Trans-Pacific Free Trade Zone Protest
Opponents of a proposed trans-Pacific free trade zone will protest the 13th round of negotiations set to begin today at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
Photos from the San Diego Stop TPP Rally
I went down tot he Bayfront Hilton on Monday and snapped a few pictures.  There were a couple hundred people there and plenty of press.
Local Television: Compilation of TV Coverage from Kick-Off Rally
Clips from NBC 7, KBNT 17 (6pm), KPBS 11, XETV 6, and KBNT 17 (11pm)
Local Television: Compilation of TV Coverage from Pots & Pans March
Clips from ABC 10 (5pm), ABC 10 (6pm), NBC 7 (6pm), KUSI 9 (6pm), FOX 6 (10pm), KUSI 9 (10pm), NBC 7 (11pm) and ABC 10 (11pm)

San Diego Opinion

Trans-Pacific Trade Talks: Public, Congress Left in Dark (Sierra Club)
The American public is expected to cede its health and environmental safety for the sake of a corporation’s bottom line.
Trans-Pacific Trade Talks Must Protect Tech, Internet companies (CCIA)
All future international trade agreements must allow the Internet sector to continue to create American jobs and inspire innovation.
US Chief Negotiator Calls Members of Congress Liars
“Is that thing on?” gasped Barbara Weisel, Chief US Negotiator at the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations after having just accused four US Senators and one hundred thirty-two congress persons, of lying to the American public.
Gutting American Environmental, Health and Labor Laws
When a democratic country loses its ability to write and enforce environmental, health, transportation, communication, land use, copyright and labor laws, it loses its sovereignty.
Letter: US Interests Are Being Trumped
We the people are being shafted by our own government.