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EU politicians protest to Congress over climate exemption in TPP row EU politicians protest to Congress over climate exemption in TPP row
(about 3 hours later)
Related: TPP fast-track vote too close to call as vocal opponents make final pushRelated: TPP fast-track vote too close to call as vocal opponents make final push
European Union politicians have written to US members of Congress pleading for them to remove a last-minute amendment that would bar Barack Obama from making action on climate change a condition of international trade negotiations.European Union politicians have written to US members of Congress pleading for them to remove a last-minute amendment that would bar Barack Obama from making action on climate change a condition of international trade negotiations.
A climate provision included at the eleventh hour in a bill to be voted on by the US House of Representatives on Friday would ban Obama from acting on climate or immigration while engaged in trade negotiations. The manoeuvre has been denounced by Democrats, environmentalists and European allies, including a number of members of the European parliament.A climate provision included at the eleventh hour in a bill to be voted on by the US House of Representatives on Friday would ban Obama from acting on climate or immigration while engaged in trade negotiations. The manoeuvre has been denounced by Democrats, environmentalists and European allies, including a number of members of the European parliament.
The climate provision was inserted this week into a related trade bill also being voted on today by Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, a Republican and former vice-presidential candidate who, in an unlikely partnership, has been shoring up votes in the House of Representatives for the president.The climate provision was inserted this week into a related trade bill also being voted on today by Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, a Republican and former vice-presidential candidate who, in an unlikely partnership, has been shoring up votes in the House of Representatives for the president.
Ryan’s provision was intended to appease rightwing members of his party, who claim that Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) plans are a backdoor way of expanding governmental action on immigration and climate without consulting Congress.Ryan’s provision was intended to appease rightwing members of his party, who claim that Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) plans are a backdoor way of expanding governmental action on immigration and climate without consulting Congress.
Related: You down with TPP? An explainer on Obama's 'secret' trade pactRelated: You down with TPP? An explainer on Obama's 'secret' trade pact
Hours before the US House of Representatives was scheduled to vote on whether to give Obama “fast-track” authority – known as trade promotion authority – on trade deals, which would make such deals easier to pass by forcing them to go to an up/down vote without amendment, several members of the European parliament (MEPs) sent a letter to their American counterparts asking them to remove the amendment.Hours before the US House of Representatives was scheduled to vote on whether to give Obama “fast-track” authority – known as trade promotion authority – on trade deals, which would make such deals easier to pass by forcing them to go to an up/down vote without amendment, several members of the European parliament (MEPs) sent a letter to their American counterparts asking them to remove the amendment.
Trade promotion authority would give Obama authority to negotiate both the TPP and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which is the planned trade agreement between the US and EU.Trade promotion authority would give Obama authority to negotiate both the TPP and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which is the planned trade agreement between the US and EU.
But EU representatives who want to take action on climate change say they cannot do it on their own.But EU representatives who want to take action on climate change say they cannot do it on their own.
“Our capacity for showing leadership together is enormous,” the MEPs wrote to US lawmakers on Friday, pointing out that US and EU together account for “over half of world trade”.“Our capacity for showing leadership together is enormous,” the MEPs wrote to US lawmakers on Friday, pointing out that US and EU together account for “over half of world trade”.
“You will be aware that the protection of the environment is a major priority for the people of Europe and the European parliament. Ruling out any action to protect the planet from global warming and climate change would deal a major blow to the prospects of reaching agreement on the TTIP which the parliament is due shortly to consider, and which we have been told should become a ‘gold standard’ for international trade agreements.”“You will be aware that the protection of the environment is a major priority for the people of Europe and the European parliament. Ruling out any action to protect the planet from global warming and climate change would deal a major blow to the prospects of reaching agreement on the TTIP which the parliament is due shortly to consider, and which we have been told should become a ‘gold standard’ for international trade agreements.”
Among the signatories of the letter urging US lawmakers to exclude the climate change amendment were Italian MEP Gianni Pittella and British Labour MEPs Glenis Willmott, Paul Brannen, Judith Kirton-Darling, Seb Dance and Lucy Anderson.Among the signatories of the letter urging US lawmakers to exclude the climate change amendment were Italian MEP Gianni Pittella and British Labour MEPs Glenis Willmott, Paul Brannen, Judith Kirton-Darling, Seb Dance and Lucy Anderson.
Related: MEPs threaten to block trade deal over rights to regulate carbon emissionsRelated: MEPs threaten to block trade deal over rights to regulate carbon emissions
The European parliament has the power on behalf of its member countries to block trade measures like the TTIP or the Trade in Services Agreement (Tisa), a deal being negotiated between 51 countries including the EU and the US.The European parliament has the power on behalf of its member countries to block trade measures like the TTIP or the Trade in Services Agreement (Tisa), a deal being negotiated between 51 countries including the EU and the US.
Earlier this week MEPs threatened to block the Tisa deal over concerns that it might limit their rights to set carbon emissions limits for airlines and ships.Earlier this week MEPs threatened to block the Tisa deal over concerns that it might limit their rights to set carbon emissions limits for airlines and ships.
“There is a real risk that our ability to set our own climate laws based on our own values will be made impossible,” the Green MEP Claude Turmes said at that time. “Both TTIP and Tisa are jeopardising European democracy.”“There is a real risk that our ability to set our own climate laws based on our own values will be made impossible,” the Green MEP Claude Turmes said at that time. “Both TTIP and Tisa are jeopardising European democracy.”
The main complaint raised by the MEPs is that the climate amendment would leave Obama powerless come December when he is set to take a leadership role at a United Nations climate change conference in Paris.The main complaint raised by the MEPs is that the climate amendment would leave Obama powerless come December when he is set to take a leadership role at a United Nations climate change conference in Paris.
“Tackling climate change is essential for everybody’s prosperity,” the MEPs wrote to US Congress on Friday. “As the global community prepares for the UN climate conference in Paris this December we do not believe that it is anyone’s interests to be seeking to limit or restrict the scope for international agreements to help us make progress on addressing global warming and climate change.”“Tackling climate change is essential for everybody’s prosperity,” the MEPs wrote to US Congress on Friday. “As the global community prepares for the UN climate conference in Paris this December we do not believe that it is anyone’s interests to be seeking to limit or restrict the scope for international agreements to help us make progress on addressing global warming and climate change.”
The UN conference is theoretically aimed at bringing countries – led by the US – to legally binding agreements on greenhouse gas emissions reductions.The UN conference is theoretically aimed at bringing countries – led by the US – to legally binding agreements on greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
With Obama no longer able to mix trade and climate, his leadership role would ring “hollow” and “hypocritical”, Congressman Raul Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizona and a vocal opponent of TPP, told the Guardian.With Obama no longer able to mix trade and climate, his leadership role would ring “hollow” and “hypocritical”, Congressman Raul Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizona and a vocal opponent of TPP, told the Guardian.
“We will be going into these international meetings with our tails between our legs,” Grijalva said.“We will be going into these international meetings with our tails between our legs,” Grijalva said.
But Grijalva said that even indirectly conceding to the right wing of the Republican party in order to help pass TPP put Obama in the same boat as climate deniers and extremists.But Grijalva said that even indirectly conceding to the right wing of the Republican party in order to help pass TPP put Obama in the same boat as climate deniers and extremists.
Having to bow to the needs of politicians who did not believe in climate change would have long-term devastating impacts on efforts to address global warming, he said.Having to bow to the needs of politicians who did not believe in climate change would have long-term devastating impacts on efforts to address global warming, he said.
“To sign the treaties that are binding, that put restraints on our nation’s ability to enter into climate negotiations internationally, is hypocritical and certainly does not do anything in terms of enhancing our reputation as a leader on the issue of climate change,” he said.“To sign the treaties that are binding, that put restraints on our nation’s ability to enter into climate negotiations internationally, is hypocritical and certainly does not do anything in terms of enhancing our reputation as a leader on the issue of climate change,” he said.
Obama has found more allies among Republicans on the TPP than Democrats.Obama has found more allies among Republicans on the TPP than Democrats.
The deal between the US and 11 other Pacific Rim countries – the contents of which have not been made available to the public – is widely acknowledged as being in big business’s interest. Unions and green groups have warned of resulting job losses and the possibility of an enhanced global fossil fuel market that could in turn increase greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate global warming.The deal between the US and 11 other Pacific Rim countries – the contents of which have not been made available to the public – is widely acknowledged as being in big business’s interest. Unions and green groups have warned of resulting job losses and the possibility of an enhanced global fossil fuel market that could in turn increase greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate global warming.
Bill Warren, a trade policy analyst with Friends of the Earth, called the climate provision “a cynical ploy to try and pass fast-track legislation at the cost of addressing climate change”. Bill Waren, a trade policy analyst with Friends of the Earth, called the climate provision “a cynical ploy to try and pass fast-track legislation at the cost of addressing climate change”.
Even without the extra silencing climate provision, Warren said, the TPP was set to wreak havoc on the environment. Even without the extra silencing climate provision, Waren said, the TPP was set to wreak havoc on the environment.
Through deregulation the TPP would help facilitate fossil fuel companies’ business operations around the word, Warren said. Chevron and Exxon Mobil were two vocal advocates of the deal, he said. Through deregulation the TPP would help facilitate fossil fuel companies’ business operations around the word, Waren said. Chevron and Exxon Mobil were two vocal advocates of the deal, he said.
Under TPP and TTIP the US would probably increase, not decrease, its production of coal and natural gas and become a major exporter, Warren said, and tribunals probably headed by private corporate lawyers, not judges, would enable corporations to sue governments if they introduced new legislation that constrained their profit. This meant an oil company could sue a government that introduced environmentally conscious legislation. Under TPP and TTIP the US would probably increase, not decrease, its production of coal and natural gas and become a major exporter, Waren said, and tribunals probably headed by private corporate lawyers, not judges, would enable corporations to sue governments if they introduced new legislation that constrained their profit. This meant an oil company could sue a government that introduced environmentally conscious legislation.