3 Ways the TPP Advances Human Rights Protections

Around the world, there are around ten million people in prison at any given time. While the world’s criminal justice systems struggle to ensure access to legal representation, a fair trial, and freedom from torture, some countries have been more successful than others. Other western countries are moving toward decarceration,[1] but politicians in the United … Read more

Don’t sit here!: A growing trend in international relations

Multilateralism has been the prevalent method to solve international issues since the end of the Second World War. The idea is that the inclusion of more than two parties to solve international issues ensures more legitimacy and long –term efficiency. Institutions such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) or the International Monetary … Read more

Critical Analysis: Tobacco and Trans-Pacific Trade

The United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Vietnam, and five other countries stand to gain a great deal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (“TPP”), a potential lucrative regional trade agreement. The agreement would further lower tariffs and other trade barriers to commerce. However, countries have not been able to agree on how the issue … Read more

Critical Analysis: Trans Pacific Partnership Negotiations Resume

The next round of negotiations on the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will be held in Singapore this month. This will be the 16th round of negotiations, and they will be held from March 4 to March 13, just seven months ahead of the self-imposed deadline for a deal. The Office of the United States Trade … Read more

Lessons to Heed in the Wake of the Free Trade Trilogy

President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama is currently intensifying talks with Colombia, Panama and South Korea regarding proposed free trade agreements (FTA) inherited from the Bush Administration. The President hopes to submit all three agreements to Congress by the end of the year.  Worrisome is that similar provisions granting substantial investor rights as those written in precursor agreements, … Read more