TPP:Dog Eat Dog by Erick San Juan

TPP:Dog Eat Dog by Erick San Juan
                                                                                  
Columnist Ben D. Kritz latest article at the front page of Manila Times, "Why You Should Be Worried About 2015?" dated April 30,2013, caught my attention especially now that that the global economy is in turmoil. Mr. Kritz was alarmed with the pulic relations fall out of the latest poverty statistics. Thanks to the NSCB(National Statistics Coordination Board) for telling the truth. He added that the PIDS(Philippine Institute for Development Studies) raised serious concerns about our preparedness for regional economic integration in 2015 as projected by the U.S. He commented that the nation's micro, small and medium enterprise(MSME) sector  is not ready to face the competitive pressure of an ASEAN(Association of South East Asian Nations)  free market because  MSME's account for over 90% of the country's business establishments. He concluded that the effects of AFTA could cause an economic crisis in 3 ways. First, the Philippine export sector will suffer. Second, government revenues will be adversely affected. The third effect on the economy will impact our agricultural sector more than the others. Kritz believe that with our entry with the TPP agreement, the situation will be more worrisome.
                                                                                                                                                                                                          
Even Wayne Allyn Root of Townhall.com (April 18,2013) said,"Here in America, we hear the same lies and distortions about the economy like 'everything is fine', 'it's getting better', 'unemployment is improving', 'the recovery is already underway' but we now know that they are delusional lies. We are nearing complete collapse." Most economic analysts worldwide have painted gloomy scenarios about global current situation.
                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Businessworld columnist Calixto  V. Chikiamco commented  (April 22,2013) that "The situation seems hopeless. Our economic oligarchy is powerful. It controls conglomerates that reach into almost every aspect of Filipino lives, it's unassailable position protected by law or other barriers to entry. It can penetrate , influence and manipulate the weak state and it's institutions almost at will. It can buy off or influence politicians, judges, bureaucrats and media organizations to thwart change, prevent competition and extract more economic favors or rent through the weak state." "The country may be forced to amend the constitution to lift the restrictions on foreign ownership if it's to join the US-sponsored  TPP(Trans Pacific Partnership). TPP is believed to be a counterweight to China." Chikiamco advised that all countries in Asia should get their act together and strengthen their anti-trust law. "If not Philippines will be doomed to a thousand year rule by an irresponsible political and economic oligarchy which will resist any reform of it's privileges and rent-seeking power.", he warned.
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
According to international economic experts, the TPP is one of the most important  components of U.S. strategy in returning to Asia. However, unlike a number of other integrated economic institutions, negotiations between America and TPP participating countries are reportedly conducted in a less transparent form which dissembles the pitfalls of the contract. Pundits believe that out of 26 chapters of the TPP agreement, only two are directly related to the trade. Most of the new agreement allegedly provide the rights and privileges for global corporations. Observers call the TPP agreement a 'corporate coup' or 'NAFTA on steroids'. Thus, U.S. intends to grant a new political power to transnational corporations, which would weaken the ability of national authorities to regulate their economy. It is assumed that foreign corporations operating in the territory of sovereign states will no longer be subjected to the internal laws of a nation-state like environmental protection, financial and labor rights,etc. In addition, transnational corporations are entitled to sue governments directly through the created institutions, international tribunals, requiring to remove barriers to their potential profits.                                                                                                                                                                                                      

In particular, the U.S. trade representative Ron Kirk, in a letter to the U.S. Congress said that the terms of TPP are expected to subject to American standards the issues related to labor, patent and copyright, as well as land use, food, agriculture, product standards, natural resources and policies. TPP will directly affect the financial and energy policy, health care, telecommunications and service sector. Experts note that the TPP goes far beyond the standard trade agreement between two countries.                                                                                                                                                                                                     

TPP will surely have a huge impact on intellectual property right, copyright and patent rights. Pharmaceutical companies are provided with a 'handicap'. Their competitors are prohibited  to enter the market with a similar product for 14 years, until they pass additional tests  for safety and effectiveness. Monopoly gives corporations the right to establish exclusively high price for drugs to the detriment of poor nations like the Philippines. Our nation and the Asean should build their policy based on their own economic interests and study the western corporate proposal which many think is a one sided deal. The west will earn instead of helping us, shortchanging the Asians in the process. Don't let the elites and the 'corporats' of the west manipulate the elites of the east. Wake up!