3 ms·

Well, it's a free-trade agreement. Mutually getting rid of tariffs increases trade, which makes all the participating countries better off. In addition, it tri

Well, it's a free-trade agreement. Mutually getting rid of tariffs increases trade, which makes all the participating countries better off. In addition, it tries to remove non-tariff barriers to trade, which involves harmonizing legislation. E.g. if you want to sell US beef in Japan and Japanese beef in the US, then the health regulations about how cows should be raised should be the same in both countries. The copyright stuff comes under the heading of harmonizing intellectual property law, although somehow it seems to end up as pro-copyright-holder as possible...

SupremumLimit 12y ago
Here is a counterpoint about everybody being "better off": http://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/free-trade-explained-in-an-excellent-comic/ http://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/free-trade-explained-... It hasn't happened historically, and it isn't likely to happen now, but we will get a bunch of draconian legislation nobody wants through TPP.
bonaldi 12y ago
> then the health regulations about how cows should be raised should be the same in both countries. As you point out in the copyright example, this is an immediate race to the regulations that are best for businesses. So in this plan, Japanese consumers would be subject to health regulations constructed on behalf of corporations by a broken and regulatory-captured US political system. Ultimately, the health regulations of their food would be that imposed by US companies, regardless of the political actions of the Japanese electorate. This is not harmony, it is discord.
- captaindiego 12y ago
  Yes exactly. And to take your specific example, Japanese health regulations with regard to meat are much more strict than US regulation. I've eaten things raw in Japan (pork, beef, fish, etc.) that I would never consider doing in the US. Choosing the lowest common denominator for the sake of improved trade will cause problems and get people killed due to culture differences. And as you say, totally ignores the wishes of the local electorate.
pessimizer 12y ago
>The copyright stuff comes under the heading of harmonizing intellectual property law, although somehow it seems to end up as pro-copyright-holder as possible... And is equivalent to a tariff.

SupremumLimit 12y ago

Here is a counterpoint about everybody being "better off": http://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/free-trade-explained-in-an-excellent-comic/ http://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/free-trade-explained-... It hasn't happened historically, and it isn't likely to happen now, but we will get a bunch of draconian legislation nobody wants through TPP.

bonaldi 12y ago

> then the health regulations about how cows should be raised should be the same in both countries. As you point out in the copyright example, this is an immediate race to the regulations that are best for businesses. So in this plan, Japanese consumers would be subject to health regulations constructed on behalf of corporations by a broken and regulatory-captured US political system. Ultimately, the health regulations of their food would be that imposed by US companies, regardless of the political actions of the Japanese electorate. This is not harmony, it is discord.

captaindiego 12y ago
Yes exactly. And to take your specific example, Japanese health regulations with regard to meat are much more strict than US regulation. I've eaten things raw in Japan (pork, beef, fish, etc.) that I would never consider doing in the US. Choosing the lowest common denominator for the sake of improved trade will cause problems and get people killed due to culture differences. And as you say, totally ignores the wishes of the local electorate.

pessimizer 12y ago

>The copyright stuff comes under the heading of harmonizing intellectual property law, although somehow it seems to end up as pro-copyright-holder as possible... And is equivalent to a tariff.