Press Release

FOR RELEASE: May 12, 2015
CONTACT: Stephanie Niedringhaus, 202-347-9797 x224, sniedringhaus@networklobby.org

WASHINGTON, DC—We applaud today’s Senate vote that blocked advancement of legislation that would give President Obama fast-track authority to expedite trade legislation through Congress. We have consistently expressed serious concerns about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, which is currently being secretly negotiated. This lack of transparency is dangerous, and efforts to move the trade agreement quickly through Congress will not allow all relevant voices to be heard.

We know that today’s vote did not halt deliberations, but we hope the pause will be a helpful first step in coming up with a more democratic process where all people affected can be seated at the negotiating table. Our nation and the world community cannot afford to repeat mistakes of earlier agreements.

Justice demands that we effectively address issues of global inequality and environmental degradation.  Good trade agreements are an important tool in that work.

We will continue to work with Congress and the administration to ensure that this and all future trade agreements come out of a democratic process that protects everyone, not just the wealthy and powerful.

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