Pacific trade deal talks in Atlanta undercut Obama promises on global development goals

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On September 30, Trade Ministers from 12 countries negotiating the Trans Pacific Partnership gathered in Atlanta to try to finalize a gigantic trade deal that sacrifices global sustainable development and goals.

This came just days after President Obama spoke at the United Nations, committing the United States to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals, a new plan to address the global challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, poor health, and poverty. Obama said the UN goals are “not charity but instead one of the smartest investments we can make in our own future.”

Yet while President Obama made these promises in New York, members of the White House staff in the office of the U.S. Trade Representative were trying to cut a TPP trade deal that will make it difficult or impossible to achieve many of the UN sustainable development goals.

Friends of the Earth U.S. created a backgrounder, after consultation with members of Friends of Earth International from around the world, on the TPP trade deal and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Bill Waren, Senior Trade Analyst, at Friends of the Earth US, had these remarks:

Our study demonstrates the hypocrisy of the Obama administration on trade and global development. The administration’s negotiating objectives in the ongoing Trans Pacific trade talks in Atlanta make a mockery of the President Obama’s promise at the United Nations to implement global Sustainable Development Goals.

The TPP trade deal will fuel global warming, gut environmental safeguards, deny life saving medicines to the desperately ill, and favor the rich over the poor.

The TPP talks in Atlanta are expected to conclude tomorrow.

Read the Friends of the Earth U.S. background paper on the TPP trade deal and UN Sustainable Development Goals here. 

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Expert contact: Bill Waren, (202) 222-0746, [email protected]
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]