From the WA Fair Trade Coalition website…

“…In this notoriously low-accountability period just after elections, Congress is pushing legislation that would “Fast Track” the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a secretive agreement negotiated behind closed doors by government bureaucrats and more than 600 corporate lobbyists. It threatens everything you care about: democracy, jobs, the environment, and the Internet.

It is time to let our representatives know how we feel about Fast Track and the TPP, and put this undemocratic process to rest for once and for all…” – http://www.washingtonfairtrade.org

According to a leaflet handed out at the demonstration…

“How will the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) impact our environment?

New Tools for Corporations to Challenge Regulations

Special Tribunals allow corporations to sue governments for lost ‘expected profits.’ Similar provisions rolled back parts of the Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act, and allowed corporations to challenge anti-mining laws in El Salvador and a court decision against oil giant Chevron in Ecuador.

Limit Precautionary Regulation

Regulators must prove that new pesticides, additives, and chemicals will cause harm, instead of proving that they will not cause harm.

Encourage more ‘rip and ship’ resource extraction

Increases export of raw materials while banning ‘value added’ requirements that support local, sustainable economies.

Expand pollution offshore, enable ‘throw away’ culture

Manufactures can relocate to seek lax environmental regulations and sweatshop labor, while producing artificially cheap products.

Corporations write the rules

700 trade advisors from corporations like Monsanto and Walmart are part of the process, while the public is kept in the dark.

Tell Congress, no ‘Fast Track’ for the TPP

Fast Track is a Nixon-era legislation that:

1) Allows the Executive brance to sign trade agreements before Congress approves them

2) Limits Congressional debate

3)Allows Congress only an up or down vote – no amendments…”