Leaked TPP Environment Chapter Reveals Substantial Disagreement, Says WikiLeaks
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) participant nations are far from compromise on environmental rules, particularly on multilateral environmental agreements and a dispute resolution process, WikiLeaks said on Jan. 15 after releasing the confidential TPP environment chapter dated Nov. 24 (here). The consolidated text (here) released by WikiLeaks is said to have been crafted during the TPP summit in Salt Lake City on Nov. 19-24.
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“When compared against other TPP chapters, the Environment Chapter is noteworthy for its absence of mandated clauses or meaningful enforcement measures,” said the WikiLeaks statement. “The dispute settlement mechanisms it creates are cooperative instead of binding; there are no required penalties and no proposed criminal sanctions. With the exception of fisheries, trade in 'environmental' goods and the disputed inclusion of other multilateral agreements, the Chapter appears to function as a public relations exercise.” The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in a Jan. 15 post (here) said the U.S. is pushing “trail-blazing” environmental conservation provisions in TPP negotiations designed to increase international cooperation.
“In December the trade ministers of the 12 TPP countries met for three days to tackle tough issues together, including in the environment chapter. There, the United States reiterated our bedrock position on enforceability of the entire environment chapter, as well as our strong commitments to provisions such as those combating wildlife trafficking and illegal logging,” said USTR. “The entire TPP negotiation, including on the environmental chapter, is ongoing. We will continue to work with Congress and with our stakeholders in the environmental community, as we have from day one, for the strongest possible outcome. Together, we can continue to call on TPP partners to join us in achieving the high environmental standards being proposed and advocated by the United States.”