tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post4194705446336469770..comments2024-02-10T12:12:06.028+00:00Comments on The Real Blog: When free trade gets twistedDavid Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410159311875228620noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post-30834858988155485062013-12-02T16:35:18.898+00:002013-12-02T16:35:18.898+00:00I very much agree with your comments about how ...I very much agree with your comments about how 'Free trade' has been redefined over the years in an entirely bad way.<br /><br />I fear the redefinition continues apace. There are few further gains to be had from reducing tariff barriers which are already low so the focus has shifted to making an end run around any form of regulation that impacts predatory capital's ability to make profit.<br /><br />The mechanism is the 'investor-state' dispute resolution system allows corporations to challenge governments before extrajudicial tribunals that can override domestic courts and even constitutions. It's not exactly "sensible stuff". Just how toxic this is can be gauged from cases brought under existing treaties that already incorporate this measure. A particularly offensive example is Chevron's case against Ecuador but there are many other examples.<br /><br />For further reading try:<br /><br />http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2013/06/leaked-mandate-report-shed-light-on-tafta-the-trans-atlantic-corporate-bill-of-rights.html<br /><br />or<br /><br />http://www.thenation.com/article/168627/nafta-steroids#<br /><br />While the latter is about the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) that serves as a model for the proposed 'Atlantic' treaty).<br /><br />Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09261797893125328161noreply@blogger.com