Trump has told a bunch of CEOs he’ll have “pleasant surprises” for them on NAFTA.
But a pleasant surprise for CEOs would be a disaster for regular people. Just like everything else he’s been up to, Trump’s new NAFTA is shaping up to be another massive corporate giveaway.
Despite railing against NAFTA on the campaign trail, Trump has done an about-face and agreed to renegotiate NAFTA instead of withdraw. But it’s clear President Trump is set to retain the worst aspects of the massive trade deal. That means preserving controversial Investor State Dispute Settlements (ISDS) that give corporations the power to sue entire countries for regulations that interfere with their profits.
Call on President Trump to keep ISDS out of the new NAFTA, and commit to public consultations during trade negotiations.
It’s clear that Trump’s “America First” slogan is really a “corporations first” agenda. Which is why it’s no surprise that he reiterated his commitment to cutting taxes and regulations in NAFTA renegotiations. That means increased threats for the environment, workers, consumer safety, and beyond.
Remember TransCanada’s $15 billion lawsuit against the U.S. government for rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline project? Trump’s new NAFTA would retain the secretive corporate tribunals that give corporations the power to demand compensation for “lost profits” from taxpayers’ pockets.
We’ve already stood up to trade deals that sacrifice our rights for the sake of corporate profits. We banded together to stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership in its tracks -- a deal that Trump himself withdrew the US from. Now, we need to channel that same energy to demand Trump deliver a trade deal that prioritizes the voices of everyday people over giant corporations.
Urge President Trump to commit to public consultations during NAFTA negotiations.
More information
The Independent. 27 April 2017.
The Hill. 11 April 2017.