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cali

(114,904 posts)
Wed Aug 21, 2013, 07:47 AM Aug 2013

U.S. in TPP rush due to ’14 elections. Froman: It's "a top priority” for Obama

Calling the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks this year “a top priority” for U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman has indicated that Washington will pull out all stops to expedite negotiations in the upcoming TPP round in Brunei, which starts Thursday.

<snip>

However, as the midterm elections approach, politicians are likely to become more sensitive to the voices of industrial and agricultural bodies, which would be seriously affected by trade liberalization.

<snip>

Therefore, the Obama administration appears concerned that unless it can persuade participating countries to reach a basic agreement by the end of the year, it will lose an opportunity to finalize the TPP negotiations as early as possible.

In February, Obama expressed a strong desire to push for an early TPP conclusion, when he referred to the TPP issue for the first time in his State of the Union address. Obama’s appointment of Froman as the U.S. trade representative is apparently aimed at achieving this goal. Froman, who served as assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs, played a key role in coordinating efforts at Group of 20 meetings and in other international trade matters.

<snip>

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000482600

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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U.S. in TPP rush due to ’14 elections. Froman: It's "a top priority” for Obama (Original Post) cali Aug 2013 OP
Yes, let's get our priorities in order. kentuck Aug 2013 #1
Fearing that a new Congress might derail this monstrosity? marmar Aug 2013 #2
Sounds like it and BlueToTheBone Aug 2013 #4
there's already a good chance that the TPA will be defeated in the House cali Aug 2013 #5
Trade liberalization? Fearless Aug 2013 #3
When was the last time Obama had a top priority that was worth a shit? mick063 Aug 2013 #6
^This JRLeft Aug 2013 #13
So, apparently Obama's top priority then is Broward Aug 2013 #7
The Labor Party is dead... pipoman Aug 2013 #8
Top Priority for Wall Street, too. Octafish Aug 2013 #9
This is the scariest idea yet. Most Americans have no idea had dangerous this is. JRLeft Aug 2013 #14
Show them this... Octafish Aug 2013 #17
Oh boy, this could be another big fucking deal! progressoid Aug 2013 #10
Do they think it's going to help us win elections? JoeyT Aug 2013 #11
I want him to fail on this issue and others big time. JRLeft Aug 2013 #12
Oh goody! City Lights Aug 2013 #15
K&R woo me with science Aug 2013 #16

BlueToTheBone

(3,747 posts)
4. Sounds like it and
Wed Aug 21, 2013, 08:24 AM
Aug 2013

how can we delay?

Right now it seems like a steam roller on steroids is flattening the world. Here the plan is to raze the Ozark Mountains

from the US geological survey
http://ozarks.cr.usgs.gov/ozark_environment.htm


The Ozarks are one of the oldest continually exposed landscapes on earth. The high, gently rolling plains once supported prairies, savannahs and open woodlands; the dissected hills and valleys supported oak and oak-pine woodlands and forest interspersed with glades, fens, springs, caves and cliffs harboring many unique species. Plants and animals have had over 200 million years to adapt to the rugged landscape or take refuge from continental climate change. Geographic isolation, topographic relief, and karst geology have resulted in remarkable biodiversity in the Ozarks. Over 200 species are largely restricted to the Ozarks, of which approximately 160 species occur nowhere else in the world. More than 100 fish species live in Ozarks streams, including 56 species and subspecies that are restricted to, or have very limited distribution outside of the Ozarks. Overall, the Ozarks provide habitat for nearly two-thirds of the threatened and endangered species in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Illinois.

The plan is for 160 miles (total plan) 345Kv GIANT power line with a 150' wide swath of dead earth covered with herbicides.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
5. there's already a good chance that the TPA will be defeated in the House
Wed Aug 21, 2013, 08:45 AM
Aug 2013

so I'm not sure whether they think a new one would be even worse.

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
9. Top Priority for Wall Street, too.
Wed Aug 21, 2013, 09:05 AM
Aug 2013

Like NAFTA.

And to think anyone wonders why the rich keep getting richer.

 

JRLeft

(7,010 posts)
14. This is the scariest idea yet. Most Americans have no idea had dangerous this is.
Wed Aug 21, 2013, 02:16 PM
Aug 2013

Hell, most Americans have no idea this is even in the works.

JoeyT

(6,785 posts)
11. Do they think it's going to help us win elections?
Wed Aug 21, 2013, 01:45 PM
Aug 2013

I mean...what the fuck. Virtually everyone hates free trade, why the hell would you want to push through a deal everyone is pretty much guaranteed to loathe when your goal should be getting people to think of you as fondly as possible?

This is not going to make electing Democrats easier.

 

JRLeft

(7,010 posts)
12. I want him to fail on this issue and others big time.
Wed Aug 21, 2013, 01:53 PM
Aug 2013

TPP, allows corporate takeover of the nation.

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