PAGE 12 | April 1 , 2016 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
What’s next for TPP? A stealth vote?
Trans-Pacific Partnership would
increase U.S. trade with nations
that violate human rights
America’s ambassadors to
Brunei and Malaysia were in
Portland March 21 — for a
panel presentation sponsored by
Nike. Brunei and Malaysia are
considered serious human rights
abusers, but they would join the
United States in a 12-nation Pa-
cific Rim free-trade zone if the
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
trade agreement is approved by
Congress and other nations.
Nike is strongly in favor of the
TPP, which would eliminate tar-
iffs on its shoes made in Viet-
nam and elsewhere.
The ambassador panel —
“What’s Next for the TPP?” —
was hosted by the non-profit
World Affairs Council of Oregon
and “co-presented” by the trade
promotion arm of the U.S. Com-
merce Department. Michael
Shannon, director of the Oregon
Fair Trade Coalition, didn’t at-
tend the panel, and instead
protested outside with several
dozen others. But Shannon
thinks he already knows “what’s
next for the TPP” — President
Barack Obama will wait until af-
Foreign trade ruled a
factor in Newberg
paper mill closure
Foreign trade contributed to the
November 2015 closure of the
Newberg WestRock recycled
paper mill, the U.S. Department
of Labor (DOL) has determined.
About 200 workers lost their
jobs in the closure, most of them
members of the Assocation of
Western Pulp and Paper Work-
ers (AWPPW). WestRock,
based in Georgia, announced the
closure three weeks after acquir-
ing the Newberg mill as part of
its purchase of SP Fiber. The
DOL found that the closure was
in part a result of increased im-
ports from Canada, China and
other countries.
Because of the DOL ruling,
the workers will be eligible for
trade-related dislocated worker
benefits including a health cov-
erage tax credit, income support
for those who’ve used up all
their unemployment insurance
and are enrolled in a training
program, and extra help for
those 50 and older who are
reemployed at a lower wage
than at their previous job.
“What phrase is missing from the over
5,000 pages of the Trans-Pacific Partner-
ship? Human rights.”
— Michael Shannon, director of the
Oregon Fair Trade Coalition
ter the November election to ternational Longshore and
schedule a vote on the agreement Warehouse Union — which op-
in the lame duck session of Con- poses the TPP despite the fact
gress. That’s because the TPP is that it might mean more work
unpopular with the American for its longshore worker mem-
public. Both Bernie Sanders and bers—has endorsed McTeague.
Donald Trump have campaigned
“What phrase is missing from
against it, and Sanders’ pressure the over 5,000 pages of the
on the trade issue has led even TPP?” Shannon asked protest-
Hillary Clinton to say
ers via bullhorn. “Hu-
she’s opposed to it, after
man rights.”
having praised it as the
Malaysia was widely
“gold standard” of trade
criticized for its record
agreements when she
of tolerating human traf-
was serving as Obama’s
ficking after mass
secretary of state.
graves of trafficking
Notably, one of the
victims were discovered
protesters would like
last year. And in 2014,
the chance to vote on
Rep. Rob Nosse the Sultan of Brunei an-
the TPP: Former state
nounced that the coun-
representative Dave
try
will
adopt
sharia law, includ-
McTeague, who’s challenging
ing
whipping
for alcohol
Congressman Kurt Schrader in
consumption,
jail
time for
the May Democratic primary,
turned up at the protest wearing Christian missionaries or for
an ILWU baseball cap. The In- Muslims who miss Friday
Several dozen protesters rallied against the TPP March 21 in Portland. Joining
them was Dave McTeague, Democratic candidate for Oregon’s Fifth Congres-
sional District, pictured below.
prayers, and death by stoning
for those convicted of adultery
or homosexual acts. Under the
TPP, Brunei would get tariff-
free access to the U.S. market.
That bothers State Rep. Rob
Nosse,who says passing the
treaty will lessen America’s
ability to pressure countries like
Brunei and Malaysia to improve
human rights.
“As a gay man, a union rep-
resentative, and a state represen-
tative, I ask our members of
Congress to oppose this trade
treaty,” Nosse told protesters.