Campaigners to take action against TTIP

Devon campaigners will take to the streets of Exeter tomorrow (Saturday 11 October) to raise awareness of the Government’s backing of a secretive trade deal, known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

The day of action will be one of hundreds taking place across Europe.

David Cameron and the Coalition government are pushing hard for TTIP, which critics have described as a ‘corporate power-grab’. Concerns about the deal focus around three main areas: regulatory harmonization which threatens hard-fought-for EU regulations on the environment, workers’ rights, public services and consumer standards; Investor State Dispute Settlements (ISDS) which would give multinational corporations the right to sue governments over laws and regulations that affect their profits and the secrecy around the negotiations which have shut out public debate.

Local campaign organiser, Sue Stevens said: "I am hoping lots of people will read the leaflets on TTIP and write to their MPs and MEPs. People will be shocked to learn how the deal could lock-in privatisation of our public services such as the NHS, and undermine food safety and environmental regulation.

"The deal could allow products such as hormone-treated beef and pork and genetically modified foods, currently banned in Europe, to make their way onto our supermarket shelves. Granting American food multinationals increased access to the EU market, could lead to big agribusiness companies becoming even more dominant in the food system and driving the many smaller producers in the South West out of business.”

Campaigners say that local people need to put continued pressure on the Government and European Institutions, but admit that leaving the EU isn’t a solution.

Ms Stevens said:“Norwegian citizens are also campaigning against this plan as Norway would be required to sign up in order to trade with the EU, but the country currently has no say in the deal as they are not members of the EU.”