TPP will hurt working families

United States International Trade Commission

The Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, was written in secret—largely by corporate lobbyists—to expand the profit margins of international corporations. They’ve called it the most progressive trade deal in history, but corporate gains under this deal will not translate to gains for our workforce or more jobs. Working families shouldn’t have to suffer so that we can give corporations special giveaways.

Fill out the form to sign the petition asking the U.S. International Trade Commission to fairly and honestly evaluate the economic impact of the TPP on working families.

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Washington, DC

To: United States International Trade Commission
From: [Your Name]

I am a working person in the United States, and I am very interested in the economic impacts of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on U.S. jobs and wages, as well as its impacts on the global economy, labor standards, sustainable development and our democracy, generally. Ordinary working people were not included in the TPP negotiation process, and the proposals made by labor organizations and human rights advocates were largely ignored.

TPP’s rules will inhibit rising wages, provide a private justice system called investor-state dispute settlement to foreign investors and empower employers to drive down wages—just as existing bad trade policy has done. Especially at risk from the TPP are jobs in the auto, aerospace, aluminum and steel, apparel and textile, call center, and electronic and electrical machinery industries, but more than 70% of U.S. workers (all of those without four-year degrees) face a risk of lower wages due to the TPP.

While the TPP may boost profits for the largest global corporations, there is an even larger risk that it will drive down wages, benefits and working conditions across the TPP region—even for firms that are benefiting from trade. Trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement that generate profits have not resulted in gains for workers, and I hope your economic models account for this.

I have no interest in trading America’s democracy for special interest giveaways to global corporations. The TPP’s certain risks for people like me outweigh its speculative and limited benefits.

I urge you to evaluate the TPP fairly and honestly, including a full analysis of the worst-case scenario investment and currency impacts. Simply repeating the models that wrongly predicted job booms from NAFTA and permanent normal trade relations with China won’t work. I am counting on you to protect jobs and wages, not simply profits.