

Bernd Lange, the chairman of the European Parliament's important trade committee, has indicated that he now expects the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations will probably fail, following a major leak of confidential documents from the talks.

Greenpeace Netherlands has released half of the entire TTIP draft text as of April 2016, prior to the start of the 13th round of TTIP negotiations between the EU and the US, which reveal US demands in detail for the first time.

Although the EU has improved transparency recently, and routinely publishes its offers for each TTIP chapter, the US has consistently refused to do so. Even MEPs and MPs have faced extreme restrictions on what they are allowed to look at, copy, or even say when it comes to the US position. The new leak by an unknown whistleblower represents a major blow to US attempts to keep its negotiating demands confidential, and provides important information to the both the EU and US public for the first time. (Ars Technica)

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If the world is going to be saved, it will be due to the actions of whistleblowers and document leakers. Like "The Man" likes to say, "If you see something, say something." The day after the Greenpeace TTIP document release, Hollande announced he would not back the trade deal in its current form. The deal is widely unpopular in France and Hollande is looking to boost his popularity. The deal is even less popular in Germany. France’s trade secretary said that negotiations over the deal will most likely be suspended.

This is a serious blow to Obama’s dream of getting the TTIP ratified before he leaves office. If the UK decides to leave the EU, that is another blow. RT has been airing a clip of Obama saying that the world must bend to US trade rules. He really comes across as a malevolent emperor in that clip. This TTIP story is widely covered overseas, but it is hardly mentioned in the US MSM…. except for a short article in “Foreign Policy.” Guess who owns the US MSM?

TTG

http://arstechnica.co.uk/tech-policy/2016/05/ttip-to-fail-leak-reveals-us-isds-gmos-demands/

http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/05/03/french-president-says-non-to-ttip/

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/may/03/doubts-rise-over-ttip-as-france-threatens-to-block-eu-us-deal

https://www.rt.com/news/342069-germans-oppose-ttip-poll/