WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Opponents of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement were barred from entering the office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) to see the full text of the deal, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO) said in a press release.
“[C]ritics that included a faith leader, a nurse, an environmental activist, a veteran, a postal worker and a student walked to the United States Trade Representative’s office to ask to read the [TPP] text,” the release, issued on Tuesday, stated. “All were disappointed when they… found the doors locked.”
Proponents of the TPP treaty have argued that it focuses on enhancing trade and investment among partner countries to create innovation, economic growth and economic development.
The TPP free trade agreement includes twelve Pacific Rim countries, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States.
