Jeffrey Vogt, AFL-CIO legislative specialist on the global economy, reports on the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement.

Trade representatives of the United States, Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam are meeting in Melbourne, Australia, to begin negotiations for a proposed regional trade agreement—the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

The trade union federations in four of the eight countries—the AFL-CIO, Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) of Singapore—issued a joint labor declaration explaining our expectations for the trade talks. The unions said:

[We] are not opposed in principle to trade agreements. As always, however, the agreement will not have our support unless it is well balanced, foments the creation of good jobs, protects the rights and interests of working people, leads to long-term, balanced economic development and promotes a healthy environment.

We urge negotiators to adopt a jobs lens, which asks how decisions at the negotiating table contribute to a coordinated strategy for the promotion of high-quality jobs and sustainable economic development among [Trans-Pacific Partnership] member countries. It is time for a new trade framework that will make a positive difference in the lives of working people. We cannot afford another trade agreement that privileges substantial new opportunities for investors over good jobs for workers. Further, to work well, trade agreements must also be fairly and consistently enforced.

The trade union confederations in Peru and Chile will join the joint labor declaration in advance of the second trade round in June. Chile is now dealing with the aftermath of a massive earthquake that struck shortly before the trade round began. Read the full text of the declaration here.

In announcing the new agreement last December, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk said negotiators hope to agree on a “high-standard, 21st century agreement with a membership and coverage that provides economically significant market access opportunities for America’s workers, farmers, ranchers, service providers and small businesses.” 

The United States already has a trade agreement with four of the other seven Trans-Pacific Partnership countries—Australia, Chile, Singapore and Peru. The new regional agreement could replace those agreements in whole or in large part, creating a new regional set of rules governing commerce among those countries. 

The AFL-CIO also filed detailed comments about the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement in January in response to a public request for comments issued by USTR. Read the comments here.

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