TTIP is tipping the balance against people

You may not have heard of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) but it may affect what Bristolians are able to buy, how they heat their homes, the climate, health care and democratic rights. 

This proposed ‘free trade’ agreement between the European Union and the United States reaches deep into our lives but has received very little public attention.  

Bristol is hosting a high-level, cross-party event at the Wills Hall Memorial Building Bristol next month to change this and give Bristol a chance to learn more. The panel features Stephen Williams MP, Molly Scott Cato (Green MEP), Charlotte Leslie MP,Kerry McCarthy MP Fran Boait (executive director, Positive Money) and Nigel Costley from the TUC.

It promises to be a lively and contentious session. Proponents say the deal will be of great benefit to consumers and will benefit the UK economy to the tune of £10billion annually from 2027. Critics argue that it would increase corporate power and make it more difficult for governments to regulate markets for public benefit. 

They contend that the economic benefits of TTIP have been not only been overstated but will threaten regulation in sectors such as health and the environment, and poses a significant threat to national democratic decision-making. 

The US, for example, would like to see a change in the EU’s approach to regulating food and agriculture. Despite assurances from the European Commission, leaked documents reveal that food safety safeguards are set to be weakened. 

Climate change policy could also be affected. The EU is explicitly pushing for an energy chapter in TTIP and for the overturn of a 40-year US ban on oil exports. This would serve to facilitate the export of tar sand oils. The EU has found the average greenhouse gas emissions from tar sands extraction and processing to be 23 per cent higher than the average fuels used in the EU. 

A potentially sinister provision is the inclusion of  “an effective and state-of-the-art investor-to-state dispute settlement mechanism”. 

This mouthful allows investors to bring legal proceedings against foreign governments that are party to the agreement, typically if they believe they have been subject to expropriation or discriminatory treatment in that country. This has raised concerns that the TTIP will undermine the power of national governments to act in the interest of their citizens. For instance, measures to open up the NHS to competition could be made irreversible if the provisions required US companies to be compensated in the event of a change of policy.

This is a crucial current debate and we need to raise our concerns with our local politicians now. After a proposed draft was leaked, in March 2014, the European Commission launched a public consultation. The TTIP free trade agreement could be finalised by the end of this year.

A range of organisations including Friends of the Earth and War on Want have raised concerns on this issue, while ’38 degrees’ have a petition you can sign. Check out some facts and join the debate.

So come along with your questions and views to Wills Hall Memorial Building on Saturday, November 8 from 3pm to 8pm. You can book your place online. The event is sponsored by Ecotricity, Friends of the Earth, 38Degrees and Positive Money.