The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership)

Weve been hearing the words Trans Pacific Partnership and TPP get thrown around this entire election cycle, but most of us rarely have any clue what this deal is about. Its commonly known as the international trade agreement that Bernie was against, that Hillary was for, calling it the Gold Standard of Trade, before changing her mind and coming out against it. President Obama was always in favor of it, and now says hell pass it during the lame duck session after the election. And Donald Trump... hes against it, but he most likely doesnt know what it is but will make it great again.

Its not surprising why so many people are confused, since the details of trade agreements can get complicated, and this one was particularly. So lets try to make it simple.

The Trans Pacific Partnership is a trade deal between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the U.S., and Vietnam, with 6 other nations looking to join. Together, these nations account for more than 40% of the worlds trade.

In short, the TPP creates basic standards and rules governing trade that all member nations must abide by.

And the TPP has the backing of many powerful corporations as well as the corporatist politicians they financially support. It would require nations with previously closed economies to liberalize. Its provision on labor organizing, for example, requires nations to allow workers to unionize for more rights and better treatment. The TPP will also create a framework for expanding and enforcing existing international environmental protection agreements.