Originally published May 6 2015
Obama denounces 'anti-global' sentiments while secretly pushing globalist trade deals on Americans
by J. D. Heyes
(NaturalNews) If President Barack Obama is remembered for one important character trait, it should be his inability to be honest about practically everything.
His lies about keeping your health insurance and doctor, lowering health insurance premiums, and knowing nothing of the myriad of scandals surrounding his administration until learning about them in the news (a claim the president later inadvertently dismissed as inaccurate) are legion.
Dishonesty - or misdirection, which is the same thing in politics - is just part of Obama's management style, as evidenced by his criticism of "anti-globalist" forces in both U.S. political parties, even as he secretly pushes globalist trade pacts that most Americans know little about.
As reported by Bloomberg Business:
President Barack Obama said the rising anti-globalization sentiment in factions of both political parties risks a withdrawal by the U.S. from global economic competition and stymied growth.
Shady deal
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Obama cited criticism and opposition to free trade deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by some Democrats and attempts by some Republicans to eliminate the pork-laden Export-Import Bank as evidence.
"There has been a confluence of anti-global engagement from both elements of the right and elements of the left that I think are a big mistake," Obama told WSJ.
The president was speaking following a visit to the White House by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Both men discussed the TPP agreement and any remaining differences that are barring a final deal.
Many Democrats from states and districts stung by decades of industrial outsourcing are opposed to yet another globalist trade deal they say will further erode U.S. manufacturing and reduce employment. Nevertheless, Obama repeated his oft-stated opinion that China will step up and fill any voids if the United States fails to complete the TPP deal with 11 other Pacific Rim nations.
For her part, "Hillary Clinton, Obama's former secretary of state and the leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, has declined to take a position on the trade deal or on legislation before Congress to grant Obama fast-track negotiating authority for the deal," Bloomberg News reported.
Previously, Natural News reported that the TPP and another global agreement, the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) "would force the U.S. and other participating countries to 'harmonize' food safety standards."
We further reported:
That means all countries that sign on to the agreement would be required to abide by the lowest common denominator standards of all participating governments. So for instance, say Vietnam allows higher residues of veterinary antibiotics in seafood than the U.S. allows, and Vietnam and the U.S. both sign on to the TPP. As a trade partner, the U.S. could be forced to lower its standards to allow for imports of seafood from Vietnam - or face a lawsuit by the seafood exporter for depriving the company of future sales of its products in the U.S.
"Needlessly secretive"
As for Obama's argument that failure to approve the TPP would result in "China stepping in to fill the void," the U.S. already imports hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods from the Asian giant, and nothing in the TPP would likely change any of that.
What is likely, however, is that additional Asia-Pacific countries where labor costs are much lower (because the standard of living is much lower) will have new access to the U.S. consumer market, cutting further American industry and manufacturing. If anything, Obama ought to be adjusting his Executive policies to boost American economic growth, which was an anemic 0.2 percent in the first quarter.
The secrecy surrounding the deal is appalling, especially in a democratic republic. As noted by Democracy Now, a progressive activist organization, a March White House briefing regarding TPP was deemed "classified" by the administration.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut called the measures "needlessly secretive," saying: "If the TPP would be as good for American jobs as they claim, there should be nothing to hide."
Sources:
http://www.foxnews.com
http://www.washingtontimes.com
http://www.naturalnews.com
http://www.nytimes.com
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