One Comment

The opposition of many of us to the TPP and similar treaties is not based on opposition to classical free trade agreements like those responsible for the developments in the guitar industry cited in the article. The problem with the TPP and its kin is that they contain additional noxious provisions, most prominently extensions of copyright and severe copyright enforcement provisions which will reduce innovation and restrict freedom of expression, and “corporate sovereignty” provisions, which allow foreign companies to sue for collateral damage resulting from legislation and regulation for purposes such as protection of the environment in special tribunals favorable to their interests rather than in ordinary courts. Agreements without such provisions would be perfectly acceptable to many of us.