the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
Government or Governance and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
Government or Governance are two different issue that deal with several of questions and issues about modern society. Problems are much more complex now, than they were a century ago. Government is only one part of modern society. The backbone of government is the ability to have power that is created by laws, regulations, and impressing taxes on the people it is supposed to govern. Modern society also includes the business sector that remains in power as long as there are consumers to buy whatever the business is selling. Society gives the business sector power by feeding it. The good that it does for society is offering employment and paying taxes. The non-profit sector is able to gain power through its supporters, and is driven by the size of the members who support that group. ("Government vs. Governance", 2016)
Those three sectors of modern society were not specifically created by anyone in charge of dividing them into specific categories for business, however, they do fit together quite nicely. Sometimes, the lines are blurred but that is the exception rather than the rule. Again, the way that government and governance is different is that it is only a single part of the governance of overseeing the enormous and complex society. ("Government vs. Governance", 2016)
The three sectors have individual languages, cultures, and practices that define each one. Members are often taught to distrust others that are different and to control the actions of the other groups. The government piece can rule over the others and place them in a position to be accused as an adversary to allegedly prevent abuses. The business section produces economic growth and when challenged it can stir controversy that is fed with public opinion and given to lobbyists. Then the non-profit section informs and educates the others about the wrongdoings of the others to prevent possible avoidable situations. ("Government vs. Governance", 2016)
When people are part of the government, they are often in a state of public interest. However, they tend to forget that they are one small part of the whole. For example, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) may or may not be serving the greater good of the whole. Honestly, only time will tell.
Governance is the process of managing and integrating society. One of the largest issues that modern society faces is that the complexity of the problems are not easily dealt with by just one sector. The complex issues are not easy to sort out. For example, suppose the issue is about air pollution near a playground that is used by the local school for sports. That issue would bring all three branches or sectors together to combat one issue. That is complex! If the issue is going to be solved everyone who is involved must disregard their distrust for each other and get along to solve the problem. ("Government vs. Governance", 2016) Countries work this way too, which is why it is important to understand the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. (Washington Post, 2016)
The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a trade agreement between the United States and 11 other countries. The agreement will govern about 40 percent of the imports and exports that the United States trades every year with countries such as Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan New Zealand, Peru and Vietnam. Also included in the agreement were Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Mexico. Most of the meetings for the trade agreement were discussed in secret, away from the prying eyes of the media who blows everything out and makes gossip out of facts that are not even solidified yet. Many groups have been concerned about what the final version of the TPP trade agreement will contain. Basically, the intent is for the sole purpose of regulating the trade rules and globalizing the governing of trade between nations. (Washington Post, 2016)
The countries involved are the largest and fastest growing industry partners in the world. China is the largest of the countries and is the central player of this TPP agreement. Without China, the TPP could cause some major issues with world leaders. (Washington Post, 2016). According to the Washington Post, in an article addressing the TPP, “Many of the TPP's current provisions are designed to exclude China, like those requiring yarn in clothing to come from countries party to the agreement, and could possibly invite retaliation. In addition, 60 senators have asked for the final agreement to address currency manipulation” This means that if the trade agreement talks do not go well with China, things could get very ugly, very fast.
Although there is a World Trade Organization, it is not set up to deal with trade deals such as the TPP, it is merely the place for small deals between smaller nations, negotiating customs issues, and smaller things that do not require world trade leaders to sit down and hammer out an agreement like the TPP. The reason why this is so, has to do with the type of complexity involved in current trade. For example, trade used to just deal in goods, such as a freighter filled with textiles from China traded for Lumber from Canada. However, now trade deals with ideas, virtual arenas that are connected through the world internet system. These can become huge parts of foreign policy, legal issues, and regulations that govern the way countries deal with each other on a larger scale. ("TPP: What is it and why does it matter? - BBC News", 2016)
The trade treaty encompasses 29 chapters and it covers almost everything from financial to telecommunication services. The agreement also includes food safety. Some sections deal with the consequences for individual country’s that break the treaty. There are sections that encourage individual countries to investigate a cos-benefit analyses on any new rules. Although this sounds very peaceful, it is far from a dinner meeting to discuss company policy about dress codes. This is serious business because most countries focus on individual issues that are difficult to address and resolve. They kind of have a policy to keep that quiet too, but these issues can be the sticking points of any discussion. This is what the complexity of the TPP is really about. It is about everyone having a win-win and no one feeling like their country is the loser. ("TPP: What is it and why does it matter? - BBC News", 2016)
Some of the items of the agreement deal with the issue of intellectual property. From anonymous sources say that the United States is pushing for stronger copyright laws that cross the borders in music and film, and that patents are honored. If the United States wins that argument then the consequence must be enforceable in every country that signs the TPP.
Also on the table is the topic of State-owned businesses. This means that governments that are part of the TPP and own the economy by the private sector supporting these enterprises to compete with independent companies. For example, US owned businesses that include the US Postal Service and the student loan institutions will have limitations if this section of the agreement makes it to the end of the process. (Governing Globalization. Geographies of Globalization)
Market access seems to be open for discussion. According to the Summary of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, “The TPP eliminates or reduces tariff and non-tariff barriers across substantially all trade in goods and services and covers the full spectrum of trade, including goods and services trade and investment, so as to create new opportunities and benefits for our businesses, workers, and consumers.” This is an important trade agreement. ("Summary of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement", 2016).
A section that deals with investor-state dispute resolution includes the ability for investors to sue the governments directly if it fails to follow the rules of the agreement. This section has some concerns about how this portion of the TPP will effect consumers and the environment. Tobacco seems odd to be included in the list of goods separate from all other goods, however, the reason it is included is rooted deep in the anti-smoking campaign where tobacco companies actually nations that heavily tax tobacco products and ban advertising. ("TPP: What is it and why does it matter? - BBC News", 2016)
Typically, all of the nations involved in the TPP negotiation process have already agreed to meet about 20 times for all day sessions, which seems exhausting. A proposal will be given to everyone and open the room for discussion. Each nation has the opportunity to add or subtract lines or items for a proposal. They will take several breaks to consult with a legal tea, then the issue will go back to the group and it will be discussed again, until an agreement is reached. ("TPP: What is it and why does it matter? - BBC News", 2016)
All the secrecy is important because meaningful discussions cannot be achieved when the public opinion that usually occurs with wide media coverage, is a distraction to accomplishing anything positive. Media tends to report on rumors that get blown out of proportion and then stops the process because of public outcry on a subject. Involving the public is not necessarily a bad thing, but in this case, it could cause some major escalation when tensions are already high between nations over certain subjects. ("Summary of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement", 2016)
Of course, sometimes the media gets hold of unauthorized information, such as the case when WikiLeaks let one controversial section loose to the public. IT was the chapter on intellectual property. Things can get ugly really fast when this happens, and several special interest groups had big concerns over this. However, this author does not see why they wanted to challenge it. Overall it sounds logical. ("TPP: What is it and why does it matter? - BBC News", 2016)
The TPP probably will not directly affect the public individually at first, however it is supposed to help the United States economy on the larger scale. Individuals may see a continued drop in fuel prices, and maybe of other imported goods, however the actual results are too varied to tell right away. In theory, it will benefit society, but that is just a theory. ("TPP: What is it and why does it matter? - BBC News", 2016)
Those who may see a gain are the investors who bank of foreign trade investments, or small business doing trade overseas. However, unless an individual is relying on the stock market for his or her financial foundation, he or she will not be affected much. ("TPP: What is it and why does it matter? - BBC News", 2016)
The Constitution has imbued Congress with the responsibility of giving advice and permission on trade agreements. However, over the last two decades, Congress has retracted in that responsibility and instead has given the president a trade promotion authority, which means that he has the right to vote yes or no about any trade treaty. This was done so that it would avoid any squabbles in Congress. After all, there are already too many arguments in Congress about domestic issues that foreign trade issues seem like the last thing that Congress needs to do. It would be like a couple arguing over who folds the laundry and who does dishes, then arguing with the neighbor about his lawn. It seems kind of petty, but it is a good way to think about it. ("TPP: What is it and why does it matter? - BBC News", 2016)
References
Everything you need to know about the Trans Pacific Partnership. (2016). Washington Post. Retrieved 14 April 2016, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/12/11/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-trans-pacific-partnership/
Government vs. Governance. (2016). The Huffington Post. Retrieved 14 April 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-a-weil/government-vs-governance_b_6858646.html
Herod, A. (2009). Governing Globalization. Geographies of Globalization
(Chapter 7, pp. 170-197). Malden, MA, Oxford and West Sussex UK:
Wiley~Blackwell.
Summary of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. (2016). Office of the United States Trade Representative Office of the President. Retrieved 14 April 2016, from https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2015/october/summary-trans-pacific-partnership
TPP: What is it and why does it matter? - BBC News. (2016). BBC News. Retrieved 14 April 2016, from http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32498715
