The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Undermining Human Rights
The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Undermining Human Rights
The controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was a massive, controversial, pro-corporate “free trade” agreement that was defeated by thousands of diverse organizations representing working people united across borders — fighting against corporate power and for the environment, health, human rights and democracy. It would have granted Malaysia, one of the world’s worst human trafficking offenders, privileged access to the U.S. market. The Obama administration concluded TPP negotiations with Malaysia in October 2015, despite the discovery of mass graves for human trafficking victims in Malaysia. The TPP also included Vietnam, despite Vietnam’s jailing of political dissidents, systematic anti-union repression and widespread use of child labor. The deal would have forged closer ties between the United States and Brunei, which has enacted a new Sharia-based penal code that criminalizes homosexuality and threatens to punish single mothers by stoning to death.
The TPP’s inclusion of such notorious human rights abusers shocked and angered many members of Congress and leading human rights, labor, LGBT, women’s and religious organizations. See some of their statements of concern below. In the 5,000+ pages of the final TPP, the words “human rights” did not appear even once.
Featured Resources:
Press Room | Congress Speaks Out | Civil Society Speaks Out
Public Citizen Press Releases & Statements
- President Trump’s Executive Orders Formally Bury TPP’s Corpse, but What About TTIP, TISA, China BIT? (January 23, 2017)
- The Burial of the Zombie TPP: Statement from GTW Director Lori Wallach on President-Elect Trump’s Statement on Withdrawing the U.S. From Being a TPP Signatory (November 22, 2016)
- Obama Administration’s Cynical Bid to Salvage the TPP by Turning a Blind Eye to Malaysia’s Trafficked Persons’ Mass Graves Will Only Fuel Criticism of the Pact (July 27, 2015)
- Sen. Menendez, Human Rights Advocates to Host Media Call on Reports the Admin Will Upgrade Malaysia on List of Worst Human Trafficking Centers in Newest TIP Report (July 10, 2015)
- Recording: Sen. Menendez Press Call on the TPP and Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report on Malaysia (July 10, 2015)
- State Department Lambasts Human Rights Violations in TPP Nations Vietnam and Brunei, Further Complicating Push for Controversial Pact (June 25, 2015)
Members of Congress Speak Out
- House Democrats Call on President Obama to Expand LGBT Protections in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (June 9, 2016)
- 19 Democratic Senators Sed a Letter to USTR Froman Requesting No Action on TPP in Congress Until Malaysia, Other Improve Labor Standards (March 22, 2016)
- More Than 120 Members of Congress Cosponsor a Bipartisan Resolution Objecting to the State Department Upgrading Malaysia’s Ranking in its Annual Human Trafficking Report (November 2015)
- House Democrats Call on State Department’s Inspector General to Investigate Malaysia Human Trafficking Upgrade (September 28, 2015)
- Sen. Menendez on Reports of Undue Political Pressure in Human Trafficking Report (August 3, 2015)
- Rep. McGovern: Trade Deals Should Never Trump Human Rights (July 29, 2015)
- Rep. Kaptur: Human Trafficking Decision Undermines American Workers (July 27, 2015)
- Rep. Schakowsky Statement on Malaysia being upgraded in the State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report (July 27, 2015)
- Sen. Brown Statement on Malaysia’s Tier-Ranking Upgrade in State Department’s 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report (July 27, 2015)
- Rep. Levin: Malaysia Upgrade in Annual Trafficking Report “Extremely Concerning” (July 27, 2015)
- Sen. Menendez on Human Trafficking Report Politicization (July 27, 2015)
- 160 Members of Congress Call on State Department to Not Upgrade Malaysia Ranking in 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report (July 17, 2015)
- Sen. Portman Cautions against Possible Unwarranted Ranking Upgrade for Malaysia in Human Trafficking Report (July 15, 2015)
- Rep. Lloyd Doggett on Altering of Malaysia’s Human Trafficking Report Card (July 9, 2015)
- Rep. Levin Statement on Reports of Change in Malaysia Human Trafficking Ranking (July 9, 2015)
- Sen. Menendez Leads Bipartisan Senate Letter on Possible Unwarranted Ranking Upgrade for Malaysia in Human Trafficking Report (July 15, 2015)
- TPP in Focus: Why Mexico’s Labor Standards Matter for TPP (July 10, 2015)
- Recording: Press Call on the TPP and TIP Report on Human Trafficking, Malaysia (July 10, 2015)
- Rep. Lloyd Doggett on Altering of Malaysia’s Human Trafficking Report Card (July 9, 2015)
- Rep. Levin Statement on Reports of Change in Malaysia Human Trafficking Ranking (July 9, 2015)
- Rep. Levin Statement on Visit by Vietnam General Secretary (July 7, 2015)
- Boozman, Senators Urge Obama to Prioritize Human Rights in Meeting with Vietnamese Government (July 6, 2015)
- Sen. Sanders Statement on Senate Vote on Job-Killing Trade Bill (May 23, 2015)
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Trade Deal Should be Public Before Congress Votes on Fast Track (May 22, 2015)
- Senator Warren Releases Report Highlighting Decades of Broken Promises and Failures to Enforce Labor Standards in Trade Agreements (May 18, 2015)
- Sen. Udall Joins Senate Coalition Calling for Strong Labor Standards in Trans-Pacific Partnership and Implementation of Standards in TPP Countries (May 11, 2015)
- Sens. Markey, Brown, Cardin, Schumer, Stabenow, Casey, Franken, Baldwin, Peters, Udall, Blumenthal, Schatz, Merkley, And Warren Call For Strong Labor Standards In Trans-Pacific Partnership And Implementation Of Standards In TPP Countries (May 11, 2015)
- Sen. Franken Says Labor Standards in Trans-Pacific Partnership Too Weak, Calls for Improved Protections for Workers (May 11, 2015)
- Nike Know-How: Three Key Questions on Labor (May 7, 2015)
- Rep. Lofgren leads bipartisan letter calling for enforceable human rights and labor standards in Trans-Pacific Partnership (May 5, 2015)
- LGBT Members of Congress Raise Concerns About Including of Brunei and Malaysia in TPP Negotiations (February 18, 2015)
- 153 House Democrats to USTR Froman: Protect Workers’ Rights in TPP Negotiations (May 29, 2014)
- Rep. DeLauro: Colombia FTA Inadequacies in Protecting Worker Rights Must Not be Repeated in TPP (May 15, 2014)
- Rep. Wu to President Obama on TPP Democracy Clause (October 6, 2010)
- Rep. Wu Calls for Promoting Human Rights in Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Talks (October 6, 2010)
- Letter from Four Senators to USTR Kirk Expressing Concerns with Transparency and Labor, Human Rights in the TPP (March 12, 2010)
Civil Society Organizations Speak Out
- Human Rights Watch TPP Q&A (January 12, 2016)
- Presbyterian Church USA, United Church of Christ, and Other Faith Groups Send Letter to Congress Urging Rejection of Language to Weaken Human Trafficking Language in the Fast Track Bill (December 9, 2015)
- Human Rights Watch’s Asia Policy Director’s Comments After TPP Text Released (January 12, 2016)
- National Organization for Women (NOW)’s President Explains Why the TPP is a Feminist Issue (January 12, 2016)
- Friends of the Earth: Obama administration manipulates human rights report to “fast track” Malaysia’s participation in TPP trade deal (July 27, 2015)
- United Food and Commercial Workers International Union: Upgrading Malaysia’s Status: Bad for Human Rights and American Workers (July 27, 2015)
- Teamsters: Human rights before huge profits from TPP (July 27, 2015)
- United Steelworkers: Removal of Malaysia from Human Trafficking Blacklist (July 27, 2015)
- NETWORK Responds to Reports that State Dept. Will Upgrade Malaysia’s Status in Human Trafficking Report (July 9, 2015)
- AFL-CIO Condemns State Department Upgrade of Malaysia on Trafficking List (July 9, 2015)
- Vietnamese Labor Activists tell Congress NO on Fast Track (June 11, 2015)
- AFL-CIO Resolution 12: America and the World Need a New Approach to Trade and Globalization (September 11, 2013)
- More Than 400 U.S. Civil Society Groups Write Congress on TPP and Fast Track, Calling for Transparency and Outlining Core Principles for International Economic Pacts (March 4, 2013)
- Joint Statement by Labor Federations of TPP Countries on Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations (November 1, 2011)