• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Saturday, May 17, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

The corporate plot to destroy public services worldwide is underway, and TTIP pales in comparison

James Wright by James Wright
2 September 2016
in Global
Reading Time: 3 mins read
160 12
A A
0
Home Global
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) looks on course to be scrapped after Brexit removed its avid cheerleaders, the UK government, from the negotiating table.

But that hasn’t stopped TTIP’s big sister.

While TTIP is only between the US and EU, the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) involves 70% of the global economy, amounting to 50 countries. Presently, Theresa May’s UK government is committed to securing this “ambitious” deal.

What are the ambitions?

The ambitions appear similar to the more well-known deal TTIP, but on a global scale. ‘Ratchet’ and ‘standstill’ clauses could cement the privatisation of public services, making renationalisation very difficult. Even those who do not support such a policy may be worried about such a threat to the democratic sovereignty of 50 countries. Especially if they voted Brexit to uphold national self-determination.

While TTIP would be terrible for climate change because it would eliminate EU environmental legislation, TISA locks in the principle of ‘technological neutrality’. This could stop countries favouring renewable energy over fossil fuels.

For the first time in history, experts are warning that our species is at an evolutionary crossroads. Nasa has warned that the Earth warmed faster in 2016 than it has at any point in the past 1,000 years. The decisions we make surrounding climate change over the next few years will determine the survival of our species.

One up side to TISA is that the secretive corporate courts system of the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) is unlikely to be included. This legislation, proposed as part of TTIP (and the Canadian version, CETA), would give multinationals the ability to sue member states for bringing in policy that is perceived to harm their profits.

But campaigners have warned that a ‘Most Favoured Nation’ clause may be included in TISA. This could be invoked to import ISDS from another trade deal, provided the country in question is part of another ‘better deal’ that includes ISDS.

TISA erodes the already minimal financial regulations that followed the financial crash, increasing the chances of a repeat of 2008.

World domination

TISA goes well beyond the reach of deals like TTIP, NAFTA, and CETA, incorporating 50 countries – including Japan, Colombia, Turkey, Pakistan, the notorious tax haven of Panama, and Peru. Uruguay and Paraguay have already deserted the negotiations, meanwhile, citing threats to their sovereignty.

Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now, has warned:

This deal is a threat to the very concept of public services. It is a turbo-charged privatisation pact, based on the idea that rather than serving the public interest, governments must step out of the way and allow corporations to ‘get on with it’.

Of particular concern, we fear TISA will include clauses that will prevent governments taking public control of strategic services, and inhibit regulation of the very banks that created the financial crash.

While Brexit (coupled with pressure from European campaigns) looks set to end TTIP, TISA is progressing in the shadows.

Critics often say that, if these trade deals are so beneficial, why not champion them publicly instead of hiding them away? And if privatisation was such a favourable policy, why would we need agreements to prevent its reversal? Surely the positive outcomes would suffice.

Now is the time for investment in renewable energy and public services, not deals that promote the opposite. With both environmental catastrophe and another financial crash on the cards, citizens must now push governments to abandon such reckless deals.

Get Involved!

– Check out campaigns against clandestine trade deals, like TTIP and TISA.

– Sign this petition against TISA, which is nearly at 350,000.

Featured image via Wikimedia Commons and UK Home Office

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Coca-Cola’s apparent cocaine habit is just the tip of the iceberg [VIDEO]

Next Post

Israel panics as the movement to end its illegal occupation gains serious momentum

Next Post
Israel panics as the movement to end its illegal occupation gains serious momentum

Israel panics as the movement to end its illegal occupation gains serious momentum

The EU-Turkey crisis deal is faltering, but people on the ground are forging new solutions [VIDEO]

The week in satire Vol. #11

The week in satire Vol. #11

Tories advise supporters how to argue points they don’t understand

Tories advise supporters how to argue points they don’t understand

“It’s our job to build on Voldemort’s policies”, claims Harry Potter in new book

"It's our job to build on Voldemort's policies", claims Harry Potter in new book

Disabled people set to take to parliament en masse to oppose DWP cuts
Analysis

Disabled people set to take to parliament en masse to oppose DWP cuts

by The Canary
16 May 2025
Southern Water are threatening a journalist with defamation for asking difficult questions
Analysis

Southern Water are threatening a journalist with defamation for doing their job

by HG
16 May 2025
FIFA face human rights questions over upcoming world cups in Saudi Arabia and the US
Analysis

FIFA face human rights questions over upcoming world cups in Saudi Arabia and the US

by Maryam Jameela
16 May 2025
Plaid Cymru Commons leader just hit a nerve with this biting question to Keir Starmer
Analysis

Plaid Cymru Commons leader just hit a nerve with this biting question to Keir Starmer

by James Wright
16 May 2025
DWP failures have led to hundreds of deaths - but these are just the tip of the iceberg
Analysis

DWP failures have now led to hundreds of deaths – but these are still the tip of the iceberg

by Steve Topple
16 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

Disabled people set to take to parliament en masse to oppose DWP cuts
Analysis
The Canary

Disabled people set to take to parliament en masse to oppose DWP cuts

Southern Water are threatening a journalist with defamation for asking difficult questions
Analysis
HG

Southern Water are threatening a journalist with defamation for doing their job

FIFA face human rights questions over upcoming world cups in Saudi Arabia and the US
Analysis
Maryam Jameela

FIFA face human rights questions over upcoming world cups in Saudi Arabia and the US

Plaid Cymru Commons leader just hit a nerve with this biting question to Keir Starmer
Analysis
James Wright

Plaid Cymru Commons leader just hit a nerve with this biting question to Keir Starmer

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

Smart Delivery Positions Mr Nang as a Leader in Australia’s Cream Charger Market

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Social Media Activism: How Grassroots Movements Are Gaining Power Online

Travel
Nathan Spears

Best Destinations In Spain For A Couples Holiday