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KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 — Major American labour unions are planning to halt political donations to members of the US Congress in a bid to fight the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) over fears that the trade deal will send jobs to low-income countries like Malaysia.
US newspaper the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported yesterday that freezing campaign contributions is a more forceful way of opposing the TPPA than demonstrations or letters, as unions had contributed US$65 million (RM240 million) to candidates, most of whom were Democrats, in the 2014 midterm elections in the US.
“Every single union in the AFL-CIO has agreed to join together to send Congress a message that if you mess with one of us you mess with all of us,” International Association of Fire Fighters president Harold Schaitberger was quoted saying at the union’s legislative conference in Washington.
WSJ reported that the US labour unions are attempting to pressure Congress members to oppose fast-tracking trade legislation, which is being sought by US president Barack Obama, as it is viewed as helping to conclude a TPPA deal.
If passed, the law would give Obama the ability to conclude trade agreements based on the understanding that they would be presented to Congress for a vote without requiring amendments.
Proponents reportedly said that such fast-track legislation is necessary as other countries in the TPPA deal, involving the US and 11 other nations, would not want to commit to the agreement if the Congress could amend a deal.
The paper also reported US officials as saying that an agreement over the TPPA deal is possible in the coming months.
The TPPA is a free trade agreement that has been negotiated by the US, Malaysia and nine others as part of the larger Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership since 2010.
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad criticised the TPPA yesterday and said the free trade agreement would lead to the world’s most powerful countries dominating the global economy.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had, last September, reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment in the TPPA negotiations as long as Malaysia’s concerns can be accommodated.
Source: Malay Mail Online
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