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  1. Key issues

Corporate interests

Behind every free trade and investment agreement lies a set of corporate interests. Just as they have greatly influenced the shape, scope and contents of World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements, so too are transnational corporations (TNCs), sectoral industry coalitions and lobby groups mobilizing around specific bilateral trade and investment negotiations, to push even further than they were able to get at the WTO.

“Bilateral and regional FTAs …are formalized manifestations of where our respective private sectors have taken us…it is really business and government moving in tandem,” explained Susan Schwab, former US Trade Representative in 2006.

TNCs, whether acting individually or as part of industry coalitions such as the US Council on International Business (USCIB), the Emergency Committee for International Trade, the Coalition of Service Industries (US), BusinessEurope, the European Services Forum (EU) or Nippon Keidanren (Japan), are organized, aggressive and influential in their demands for specific FTAs. The comprehensiveness of most free trade and investment agreements means that there are many cross-cutting issues as well as separate chapters and provisions in these agreements which serve to shape policy regimes in the interests of TNCs.

last update: May 2012
photo: Mehr Demokratie e.V.

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American and Chinese firms have signed deals worth 13.6 billion dollars ahead of a high level meeting that could formally endorse talks for a bilateral investment treaty, officials said.
US targets full opening of Asian beef market
7-Jun-2008 Korea Times
The Bush administration, whose major political funding sources allegedly involve ranchers, is likely to urge China and Japan to "fully" open their beef markets, citing the negotiation results with South Korea.
Government procurement provisions in the CARIFORUM EPA and lessons for other ACP states
5-Jun-2008
This paper on government procurement and EPAs written by Stephen Woolcock from LSE recommends that ACP countries first open their procurement markets on a regional basis, before making commitments to the EU.
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Corporate opportunities from JPEPA, if ever the Philippine Senate ratifies it
Rules of Origin and EPAs: What has been agreed? What does it mean? What next?
15-May-2008
This paper provides an analysis on the significance of changes made to rules of origin during the EPA negotiations
Businesses warily eye Democrats’ trade position
18-Apr-2008 Reuters
As the race to select a US Democratic presidential nominee drags on, corporate chieftains and some trade groups are raising concerns about the candidates’ free trade positions.
ITC launches new investigation on possible modification to the US-Chile FTA rules of origin
13-Mar-2008 Fresh Plaza
The investigation, Probable Economic Effect of Certain Modifications to the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Rules of Origin, was requested by the US Trade Representative (USTR)
The launch of a book on the impact of ICSID on human rights
21-Feb-2008 Bolpress
In its introduction the book explains how international financial institutions act like tailors charged with fitting out transnationals with tailor-made suits.
Pharma-chemical lobby demands unhindered trade
9-Jan-2008 swissinfo
The influential umbrella group of the Swiss pharmaceutical and chemical industries has demanded that the government act to remove global trade barriers. It said such demands should be made when creating free trade agreements with selected countries, preferably Brazil, Russia, India and China, as well as the United States.
USTR Susan Schwab and CEA President & CEO Gary Shapiro at International CES: Trade is vital to US economic growth and jobs
8-Jan-2008 Reuters
Free trade agreements are important for the US consumer electronics industry