Global Trade
Free trade agreements undermine government policies that protect
local farmers’ livelihoods, help countries maintain agricultural
self-sufficiency and preserve the environment for future generations.
Rural America has been devastated by these so-called “free trade” agreements, which lift tariffs and import quotas between nations. In the past ten years, the amount of food being imported to the United States has doubled. As a result, the market is flooded and the price of crops is falling fast. Local farmers across the nation are at risk of losing their land and their livelihoods as their crops are forced to compete.
At the same time, the U.S. government is handing out billions of dollars in subsidies to large-scale producers, enabling them to dump food on the market at prices significantly lower than the cost to grow it. Agribusiness’ unfair advantage has forced thousands of small-scale farms throughout the world into bankruptcy.
Join us in the fight to stop free trade agreements that are trading away our local farms and healthy food for agribusiness profits!
Read More from Food & Water Watch on Global Trade and Food Safety:
Our report, A Decade of Dangerous Food Imports from China, looks at a well-documented pattern of chemical adulteration and unsafe drug residues in food imported to the United States from China. It also explores a common-sense approach to to inspecting imported food and preventing the globalization of the food supply from sickening our citizens.
Rural America has been devastated by these so-called “free trade” agreements, which lift tariffs and import quotas between nations. In the past ten years, the amount of food being imported to the United States has doubled. As a result, the market is flooded and the price of crops is falling fast. Local farmers across the nation are at risk of losing their land and their livelihoods as their crops are forced to compete.
At the same time, the U.S. government is handing out billions of dollars in subsidies to large-scale producers, enabling them to dump food on the market at prices significantly lower than the cost to grow it. Agribusiness’ unfair advantage has forced thousands of small-scale farms throughout the world into bankruptcy.
Join us in the fight to stop free trade agreements that are trading away our local farms and healthy food for agribusiness profits!
Read More from Food & Water Watch on Global Trade and Food Safety:
Our report, A Decade of Dangerous Food Imports from China, looks at a well-documented pattern of chemical adulteration and unsafe drug residues in food imported to the United States from China. It also explores a common-sense approach to to inspecting imported food and preventing the globalization of the food supply from sickening our citizens.
Fact Sheets
- Don’t Fast Track Fracking and Unsafe Food July 15, 2013
- Keep Tar Sands Oil Out of New England August 16, 2012
- Fishing for a Way Out Iceland’s Struggle to Dismantle Its Privatized Fishery System July 27, 2012
- The Road to Rio+20: Why You Should Care and What You Can Do January 9, 2012
- Yes We Can: Why Obama Must Put Human Rights First and Support the Right to Water July 26, 2010
Reports
- U.S. Version – Biotech Ambassadors: How the U.S. State Department Promotes the Seed Industry’s Global Agenda May 14, 2013
- Our Right to Water May 9, 2012
- Fracking: The New Global Water Crisis March 7, 2012
- Water for Flowers November 4, 2009
- Changing the Flow: Water Movements in Latin America May 1, 2009
If You Thought What ALEC and the Koch Brothers Are Doing Was Bad…
The Transpacific Partnership (TPP) is being secretly negotiated by 12 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan and Brunei. The Trans Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) includes the 27 nations of the European Union. Both of these proposed trade agreements threaten U.S. food safety rules, infringe upon public and private land with an increased push for fracking, undermine efforts to develop local food systems and increase the privatization of water systems.
While its supporters talk about them as “trade” deals, in reality the TPP and TAFTA would be a permanent power grab by corporations and their financers that would make it impossible for future generations to choose what laws and rules they want to live under. They would permanently enshrine the very economic system that has lead to greater imbalances in income and wealth and increasing economic crises. These deals would also allow foreign corporations to sue the federal, state and local governments over laws and policies that violate the “trade” deal, but protect us from unsafe food, dirty water and dangerous fracking. It’s outrageous!
How do we know that these deals will give more power to corporations and leave our children, our air and water, and our food safety at greater risk? Because while the American people aren’t being told what’s in the deal, and while members of Congress are being shut out of the negotiations, representatives from more than 600 corporations and corporate interests are able not only to see the text of the agreement, but also are able to help influence what goes into it.
We need to stop these trade deals before they give even more power to corporations!
Read our new fact sheet: Don’t Fast Track Fracking and Unsafe Food
And tell your senator and representatives to oppose these corporate give-aways.
© 2013 Food & Water Watch
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