Holy See (The Pope) Criticizes TPP And TAFTA/TTIP In WTO Speech

from the nobody-expects-the-Spanish-Inquisition-or-Holy-See dept

Thu, Dec 5th 2013 1:08pm — Glyn Moody

There's no shortage of critics of massive trade agreements like TPP and TAFTA/TTIP, but today saw strong condemnation from a very unexpected quarter: the Holy See, often, if erroneously, equated with the Vatican. Whatever the jurisdictional differences, the statement delivered by His Excellency Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva at the 9th Session of the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization presumably comes with the full approval of Pope Francis himself. We can assume that because of the extremely controversial statements it contains, which would have required approval at the highest level. Things like this:

While a minority is experiencing exponential growth in wealth, the gap is widening to separate the vast majority from the prosperity enjoyed by those happy few. This imbalance is the result of ideologies that defend the absolute autonomy of the marketplace and of financial speculation. Consequently, there is an outright rejection of the right of States, charged with vigilance for the common good, to exercise any form of control. A new tyranny is thus born, invisible and often virtual, which unilaterally and relentlessly imposes its own laws and rules. An even worse development is that such policies are sometimes locked in through trade rules negotiated at the WTO or in bilateral or regional FTAs.

The statement then goes on to criticize the move away from multilateral trade agreements of the kind traditionally drawn up at the WTO, to new-style "mega-regional trade agreements", routinely negotiated in secret: Currently there is a clear tendency to further enlarge these RTAs [Regional Trade Agreements] to form mega-regional trade agreements such as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Certainly, the enlargement of regional trade agreements is a step towards further trade liberalization but we have to bear in mind that these agreements inevitably threaten the desirability to reach an agreement on a truly multilateral basis. In fact, by entering a regional trade agreement a country reduces the incentives to extend its efforts on trade liberalization at a multilateral level.
Here's why the Holy See believes RTAs and mega-RTAs are problematic: we know that only the multilateral system is a clear, equitable system that provides effective guarantees for small and poor countries that tend to be penalized in a Regional Trade Agreement where it is asymmetric. Among the most damaging concessions developing countries make in regional and bilateral agreements are those enhancing the monopolies on life-saving medicines, which reduce access and affordability and those that provide excessive legal rights to foreign investors, limiting the policy space for nations to promote sustainable and inclusive development.
"Enhancing the monopolies on life-saving medicines" is a clear swipe at TPP, which aims to do precisely that, with what are likely to be terrible and even fatal consequences for the poor in the Pacific region. And the phrase "excessive legal rights to foreign investors, limiting the policy space for nations to promote sustainable and inclusive development" is obviously a reference to the imposition of corporate sovereignty clauses in both TPP and TAFTA/TTIP.

It's unlikely that the Holy See's intervention at the WTO meeting in Bali will have any direct effects on either the TPP or TAFTA/TTIP negotiations, but it does signal two important facts. First, that Pope Francis is emerging as a passionate defender of the world's poor, and one who is not afraid to speak truth to even the most powerful nations; and secondly, that resistance to the most unjust and unjustifiable aspects of TPP and TAFTA/TTIP continues to grow.

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Filed Under: access to medicine, holy see, patents, pope, tafta, tpp, trade agreements, ttip, wto

35 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 5 Dec 2013 @ 1:23pm

the pity is that the Pope only 'speaks to God'. the USA in general and the USTR in particular, thinks it IS GOD and therefore, whatever it says goes, regardless of the consequences for anyone else, whether poor, sick or not! basically, it's trying to turn the planet into a 'one country rules everyone, everywhere and the rest of the planet is to be 3rd world'!
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- Anonymous Coward, 5 Dec 2013 @ 1:26pm
  
  Re:
  "the USA in general ... thinks it IS GOD and ... it's trying to turn the planet into a 'one country rules everyone, everywhere and the rest of the planet is to be 3rd world'!
  
  Each country should be looking out for their best interests. This part of what you said isn't the problem. The problem is they're closing the doors on Congress to do what they are supposed to do and make laws to protect this country. If they can't oppose international trade agreements, and those agreements contain specific laws, that then binds Congress and restricts their power, which is the real problem.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - BentFranklin (profile), 5 Dec 2013 @ 1:57pm
    
    Re: Re:
    "Each country should be looking out for their best interests."
    
    Our leaders are not looking out for the country's best interests, just those of the powerful. Of course the powerful think they are the country, so they see no problem. That's the problem.
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  - John Fenderson (profile), 5 Dec 2013 @ 2:44pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Each country should be looking out for their best interests. This part of what you said isn't the problem.
    
    There's a huge difference between "looking out for their best interest" and "looking to dominate the planet."
    
    That there are people in power who can't see the difference is a pretty huge problem.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Dec 2013 @ 1:27pm

At the very least the Pope is popular enough and has enough followers that maybe he can stir the people into making a SOPA/ACTA-like fuss and kill off these treaties.

Okay, okay, I'll stop dreaming.
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- Anonymous Coward, 5 Dec 2013 @ 2:15pm
  
  Re:
  SOPA is not what he is shooting at. It is much more specific to TPP in particular and ACTA. TTIP barely qualifies as this type of agreement.
  
  Most of what the guy says will never change: Large countries screwing over small countries is a fact of life. Tribunals on the other hand is a massive threat to the democratic powers in the world. Especially when handling agreements between the few solidly democratically controlled countries. It will help in autocracies and semi-anarchies, but in real democracies they can only hurt the general populations on account of short term trade increases.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 5 Dec 2013 @ 2:31pm
    
    Re: Re:
    I believe what he meant was that the Pope may be able to stir up people enough that sufficient public object is raised to kill the agreements, much the way that a high degree of opposition stopped SOPA.
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- Anonymous Coward, 5 Dec 2013 @ 2:58pm
  
  Re:
  If anyone can do it, its Pope Francis. I really love this guy.
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  - The Conscious Catholic, 5 Dec 2013 @ 3:46pm
    
    Re: Re:
    I won't be surprises when the TAFTA talks begin he will start stirring up commotion in Vatican City and parts of Rome, this is the POPE we are talking about here
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- The Real Michael, 6 Dec 2013 @ 7:29am
  
  Re:
  Why would that be so surprising? There are well over 1 billion Catholics worldwide, certainly more than enough to raise their voice in opposition.
  
  It would take willful ignorance to cheer on the further erosion of people's rights, after all, especially where it concerns public health issues.
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johnjac (profile), 5 Dec 2013 @ 1:51pm

I'm not surprised the Holy See is full of freetards. They haven't even bothered to copyright the Bible.
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- silverscarcat (profile), 5 Dec 2013 @ 2:05pm
  
  Re:
  Isn't that impossible though? I mean, the book *IS* well over 2000 years old.
  
  Even by today's copyright standards, there's no way to copyright it.
  
  That would be like trying to copyright the epic of Gilgamesh, the story of Avalon, tales of Hercules or the legend of Beowulf.
  
  Far too long since the story ended for copyright to cover it.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 5 Dec 2013 @ 2:28pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Not really, all they have to do is re-translate the bible and it qualifies for copyright under US law.
    
    However, since The New York Times reported God is dead in 1968. It hasn't been 70 years since the death of the author yet, so under current copyright law, the bible is covered.
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    - Anonymous Coward, 5 Dec 2013 @ 4:17pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Not really, all they have to do is re-translate the bible and it qualifies for copyright under US law.
      
      If interested, this includes the NIV and the NKJV. I think these are two of the more popular translations. Look for the "Copyright status" on the sidebar.
      
      But they're not that strict about distribution as you can access both versions at places like www.biblegateway.com. It seems that they do see benefits of getting the word out...
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  - Not an Electronic Rodent (profile), 5 Dec 2013 @ 3:42pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Isn't that impossible though? I mean, the book *IS* well over 2000 years old.
    Even by today's copyright standards, there's no way to copyright it.
    Well allegedly god wrote it so life+70 years of an immortal being is only slightly out of scope for current copyright...
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    - The Real Michael, 6 Dec 2013 @ 7:24am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      God didn't write the Bible; rather, men wrote it with God's guidance.
      
      I'm very pleased that Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi is speaking out against these draconian treaties, exposing them for what they really are: wealthy corporations looking to extend their monopolies at the expense of the poor and the middle class. Corporates value their profit margins more than human rights, as is apparent by their actions.
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      - Major, 6 Dec 2013 @ 8:13am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        But just imagine the implication if he was ! :
        
        Light shine upon the world and GOD come back among us !
        He came back with an army of men who wore clothes of black fabric, and then he spoke to all mankind :
        - "BAM ! I sue every people who worshiped me and their descendant for 2000+ year of royalties !"
        The black army then slowly start to advance taking every possessions as the people wept. One of them asked :
        - Why GOD ?, OH GOD WHY ?! Who are those harbinger of sorrow ?
        - "Oh those guys ? those are just my lawyers ! There was no more room in hell so i just, like, redeemed them !"
        And then he turn back fading, but just before he disapeared :
        - "Oh and i trademark the word GOD too !".
        
        Ps. : Ok sorry its not possible... he would probably have been double-crossed already. POW !
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    - John Fenderson (profile), 6 Dec 2013 @ 9:25am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      On the other hand, god is not subject to man's laws and so any work he produces does not qualify for copyright protection in the first place.
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      - Not an Electronic Rodent (profile), 6 Dec 2013 @ 11:23am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        On the other hand, god is not subject to man's laws
        Apparently when it comes to copyright, neither are **AA-associated companies, but it doesn't stop them using the law to their advantage...
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- Anonymous Coward, 5 Dec 2013 @ 2:34pm
  
  Re:
  The only ones today who copyright their versions are the big porn producers, since it is such a money spinner for them.
  
  The owner of the copyright of the original bible texts has a philosophy of
  
  "Freely you have received, then freely you give."
  
  and has placed it in the public domain for all men to read, learn and seek salvation from it.
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- Blaise Alleyne (profile), 5 Dec 2013 @ 6:48pm
  
  Re:
  > I'm not surprised the Holy See is full of freetards. They haven't even bothered to copyright the Bible.
  
  If only that were true...
  The [New] Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.
  
  See also:
  http://brandonvogt.com/free-word/
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James Love (profile), 5 Dec 2013 @ 2:16pm

Impact of statement
It is my guess that the statement by the Holly See will have a large impact on the Singapore meeting on the TPP. But, we will know more in a couple of days.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Dec 2013 @ 3:02pm

Many of you may think that the USA is the sole holder of power in the world, but the vatican still has more power than you would expect.
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Anonymous, 5 Dec 2013 @ 3:52pm

Holy See...didn't old Fred say something about the Sea Of Holes just before the Sea Of Green?
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GeneralEmergency (profile), 5 Dec 2013 @ 4:48pm

Wow...
.

This is good news which, in and of itself, raises another issue.

It it wrong to want to "party" with the Pope?

.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Dec 2013 @ 5:33pm

This Pope is the first one in many years I can appreciate and respect. If you have read any of his writings, he is really good, and makes a lot of sense. Sure wish people would listen to him, but I don't hold out much hope. The US, especially, but also most politicians in the world think they know more and are smarter and wiser than The Pope. More's the pity...they ain't.
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- Dan S (profile), 5 Dec 2013 @ 8:56pm
  
  Re:
  Well, he's already embarrassed Rush and Palin, which should catch the attention of some circles. Even if he gets a few Catholic voters to see the cognitive disconnect they're living, he is making an important difference.
  
  The real impact will be seen in the voice he gives to South America, and the "third world" at large.
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- erikjay, 7 Dec 2013 @ 7:37pm
  
  Re:
  Oh, for crying out loud. The Pope is an economic illiterate. The global poverty rate has been halved in just the last 25 years. China alone, by opening up just slightly to freer markets, has lifted almost 700 million people out of poverty in a generation, fastest ever. The freer people are, the more productive, and the more caring about the environment -- poor nations that adopt environmental regulations will stay both dirty AND poor. All of a sudden the entire progressive clone army loves the Pope. He is a total dipstick, and embarrassingly wrong.
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Blaise Alleyne (profile), 5 Dec 2013 @ 6:53pm

The Holy See: Pope Francis is picking up on Pope Benedict
Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in veritate:
"On the part of rich countries there is excessive zeal for protecting knowledge through an unduly rigid assertion of the right to intellectual property, especially in the field of health care."

These concerns of the Holy See are not new:
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090707/1037005473.shtml
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The Real Michael, 6 Dec 2013 @ 7:42am

When was the last time they pushed for a treaty to help the poor, the sick, the homeless? When was the last time they pushed for a treaty to protect human rights (without misappropriating the terminology to force through their own agenda)? Are large corporations and pharmaceuticals, which have already amassed trillions of dollars in assets and often utilize slave labor and sweatshops, more equal than everyone else?
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Maria, 9 Dec 2013 @ 4:50pm

TPP is a mistake! no more hands-off corporate access!
As TPP negotiators meet in Singapore and Congress enters its last working week this year, it is time to keep up the pressure! Since November 14th, 262 signatures! Add yours - TPP is a mistake! Mutual gain means regulated trade, not hands-off corporate access!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/884/537/714/tpp-is-a-mistake-mutual-gain-means-regulated-trade -not-hands-off-corporate-access/
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Dec 2013 @ 2:35pm

It's good to see high ranking members in the Catholic Church, are sensing a great evil brewing in the force.
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IPIA, 22 Dec 2013 @ 4:29am

this is my thought..Holy See (The Pope) statement will impact too for the agreement. I hope so
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Jan 2014 @ 1:55am

This is not a Pope that serves the Oligarchy. His predecessor was a weakling. This is a fighting Pope. Pope Francis is an ally to humanity. He stands and speaks out against Austerity and the IMF. He was in fact instrumental in their ousting from Argentina in 2000.
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Prince Coiff la Bouche, 4 Apr 2016 @ 7:38am

Francis
As usual, the comparisons with other popes are superficial. Doctrinally, no pope is ever different from any other unless he happens to pronounce something as doctrinal (which is never something hasn't been already accepted by the church previously). Francis only differs in style from Benedict or JPII, but that's to be expected since no two people are the same. Furthermore, different issues are the concerns for different popes at different times. Unfortunately, people are superficial and ignorant and don't bother reading encyclicals. If they did, and understood them, they'd see a very high degree of similarity.
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