www.foei.org/en/what-we-do/land-grabbing/latest-news/foe-europe-eu-us-trade-talks-on-hold-but-risks-remain
At face value, I thought this sounded fairly innocuous but this proposed partnership is causing widespread concern, as it is suggested that the powers put forward in the agreement towards "harmonising standards" may result in the EU's high level of all types of protections (environmental, agricultural, data, etc.) being harmonised downwards.
From a different viewpoint, some people in the US are equally opposed to the partnership on the grounds that they do not think the US should be discussing any agreement that might impose stricter levels of protection on the US.
This suggests that a compromise might mean the US being bound by stricter rules but, conversely, it might also lead to some of the EU's present protections being diluted or even abolished. Multinationals have a history of pushing for lower standards of protection and they are very keen for this partnership to go ahead.
I would need to read more about this proposed partnership to form an opinion, but it does seem that this is a subject that has received little media attention or explanation, and yet it appears to have quite far-reaching implications.
Sometimes it’s just the small things that press the bruise isn’t it? 😢
Is a new relationship possible without sex?
National treasures. Who would you choose?
