politics

Congress hands Obama major win on trade legislation

31 Comments
By CHARLES BABINGTON and DAVID ESPO

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

31 Comments
Login to comment

Well, is Obama changing colors here? Blue to Red?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It's funny how the majority of Americans that knew about the tpa were against this legislation but congress passed it anyway. What entity does America belong to? Because it sure as hell ain't the people.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Best thing that could help japan-usa relationship is the tpp. TPP is going to help most of us. China wont like it. And some poeple.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

It's funny how the majority of Americans that knew about the tpa were against this legislation but congress passed it anyway. What entity does America belong to? Because it sure as hell ain't the people.

Is there any country in the world where politicians actually "listen" to the will of the people?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Yubaru: is there a country in the world where politician actually "listen to the will of its people?

< While I agree with you, that still doesn't make it ok? Just because many do something wrong, that doesn't make it right, nor is it justification! >

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The American Congress only caters to corporations and not the American people.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

just a week ago the TPP haters were declaring in dead, not long now and JA and big J business will have some real competition and wont be able to continue to screw the J public. time for a bit more variety. LOL

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Be careful what you wish for, as the saying goes. The GOP/Dems who voted for this seem to be fine giving the President the authority granted in this bill. But what happens when a new President comes along and they don't like him/her. Then you will see Congress will reap what it has sown.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Anyone want to argue about how the Republicans oppose everything Obama does?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

not sure how a trade bill that allows multinational corporations to sue national governments for whole raft of provisions can be good... you watch, governments will soon be sued for issuing public health warnings that smoking is dangerous to health as it impacts on the tabacco industries ability to make profits. One example of many cases where national interests will become subservient to global profits

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Here we are, the good idea of capitalism gone wild in a really bad way. I think it's time to kick the old guys out of Washington. This doesn't serve the people in anyway. It will make slave-wage labor the way to go and export most jobs to those areas... how does that help anyone. A very bad day for workers everywhere.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

all the farmers in japan are crying in their rice paddies right about now.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Taking from The Poor = TTP? Dum dum dum...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Guess I'm gonna help Japanese ricefarmers sell their stuff!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Anyone want to argue about how the Republicans oppose everything Obama does?

Anyone want to argue that Obama is a socialist?

This doesn't bode well for any of us. Well, except for the corporate executives among us.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Im old enough to remember when Europe was being sold to the people as purely a "trade Partnership" under the same guise. Now it is a single currency European Union where counties rule of law and sovereignty are second to the all powerful law of Brussels, consolidation of power just like any large corporation. Corporate Earth here we come/are....

3 ( +5 / -2 )

While I agree with you, that still doesn't make it ok? Just because many do something wrong, that doesn't make it right, nor is it justification!

Right? Wrong? Who knows, but often times it seems to me that those who make the most noise get heard most often, even if they are a small minority.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

all the farmers in japan are crying in their rice paddies right about now. they had plenty of time to get there act togther, decades of screwing the Japanese consumer will eventually come back and bite you. very little sympathy for them, the TPP will just force them to change there ways

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

the TPP will just force them to change there ways

AKA cutting off your nose to spite your face.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

AKA cutting off your nose to spite your face. no free market competition, where the consumer has a choice of many different products from different countries and they decide which product they wish to purchase, and prices are set by supply & demand not fixed high to support a minority group from the pockets of the majority.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It's a race to the bottom that will end in 3rd world workers getting exploited, and less money in the pockets of the common man in all countries that sign. Make no mistake, the TPP will only benefit the corporate executives. It will hurt everyone else.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

The history of the European Union makes a interesting read http://europa.eu/about-eu/eu-history/index_en.htm

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Cheaper butter and rice vs. the surrendering what remains of democracy to our corporate overlords?

Reminds me of your average Walmart shopper, buying cheap plastic junk made in China b/c the selfsame corporate representatives (aka as the US Congress) destroyed labor and offshored most white working class jobs a generation ago. Literally, they buy the goods they once made, IOW serfs being serfs. But, hell, cheap goods vs. a secure jobs and the American dream...

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Look at the bright side. No more wasting money on Olympics, just Rollerball for the circuses.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

It's funny how the majority of Americans that knew about the tpa were against this legislation but congress passed it anyway. What entity does America belong to? Because it sure as hell ain't the people.

Whatsnext -- maybe you should spend 30 seconds on Google before telling us all "how the majority of Ameicans" feel. If y ou had, you would have read the following:

According to another Pew Research poll, more than half the American public thinks both TPP and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), an Obama administration trade and investment initiative with the European Union, would be good for the country.

Personally, I am thrilled that Obama had the guts to cross party lines and go against the Democratic ideologues and the unions and do what is best for the country. Plus, this vote puts tremendous pressure on Japan, since they no longer have any excuse to stall on getting a deal done. Obama holds all the cards now.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

TPP is NOT about Free Trade. That would happen if governments would stay out of it altogether. No, TPP is Mercantilism in new clothes. Of course, the politicians (both parties) and their owners will benefit, but at the expense of the majority of people just like NAFTA.

The unionists/socialists are right to oppose TPP, but for the wrong reasons.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

TPP had very little trade regulations. It was about granting by fiat corporations to have the ability to sue governments for profit losses. For example take air pollution. If governments order it stopped corporations can sue. Lost profits are lost profits no matter the reason. It's about the corporate-ization of the world and zero about people and your health or the environment or reducing costs etc... For sale. Going going gone...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

YubaruJUN. 25, 2015 - 11:14AM JST < While I agree with you, that still doesn't make it ok? Just because many do something wrong, that doesn't make it right, nor is it justification! >

Right? Wrong? Who knows, < Really, so you actually believe that two wrongs (or more), DO make a right?

but often times it seems to me that those who make the most noise get heard most often, even if they are a small minority.

< Just curious of how that relates to this issue? I've read & heard a lot of noise from both sides, equally. It seems to me that the ones with the most financial influence tend to get their way these days. >

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The republicans like this because they think they will get the power after Obama leaves office. To bad they don't realize they just lost the 2016 election with passing this bill.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Anyone want to argue about how the Republicans oppose everything Obama does?

Anyone want to count the number of elections that Obama has left? Hint, it is none.

Obama beat the republicans in landslides twice, that battle is long over now. Ask if this would have happened in the first term? Hint, no way.

Add this to the list of amazing accomplishments of the Obama Presidency. It really is too much to count now. On every economic measure the country is far better off than four years ago or even more dramatically since the Great Bush Recession of 2007-09. Just proves that democrats lead the country to prosperity as opposed to disaster under the other party.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

They worry what their constituents will voice out. Long grain rice export to Japan, right side handked Ford cars are in top priority. auto export pushers could not get Japanese brand auto makers in USA support to ship US made automotives to Japan. Pork was another issue agri groups are pushing. Short grain producing farmers are not pushing this time. Sushi booms in USA and talks about Japanese people live longer enabled their rice sales up and up. Pork sales are down in USA. Turkey bacons and other none pork using meat products. We will see how it is. /this time, auto pushers did not say :I never buy Japanese products, I only have Sony and /toyota:

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites