Postmedia News reports, “Political leaders from Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiating countries, including Canada, are attending the 21-member APEC forum in Vladivostok, Russia (this weekend) and — as at last year’s meetings — are expected to meet on the summit’s fringes to discuss the status of the (Trans Pacific Partnership) trade pact. …Many view the pan-Pacific free-trade deal as potentially outstripping the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in economic importance… The TPP trade bloc includes the United States, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Canada and Mexico are about to officially enter negotiations and Japan has also expressed interest. …Canada’s first official round of talks with member countries is (to be) held later this year, likely in December. …The TPP discussions at APEC also come just days before a Trans-Pacific Partnership public hearing on Sept. 12 in Washington. At that meeting, lobbyists and public interest groups are expected to outline demands they want fulfilled before Canada officially joins negotiations, including having Canada overhaul its supply managed agricultural sectors and strengthen intellectual property rights. …The Conservative government has served notice in recent months that everything — including supply management — is on the table for TPP negotiations… Critics say that strengthening intellectual property rights for such things as pharmaceuticals could mean the price of generic drugs will soar…” The current round of negotiations on the TPP extend to September 15 in Leesburg, Virginia. The Council of Canadians critique of the Trans Pacific Partnership can be read at http://canadians.org/tpp.
