[Ip-health] AFL-CIO against TRIPS+ in US-Malaysia FTA

[Mike Palmedo]

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[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/IA23Ae02.html

US unions rally against Malaysian pact

January 23, 2007
Asia Times
By Anil Netto

[snip]

American unionists argue they are not just concerned about job losses in th=
e United States. "It is not just northern unions trying to take jobs from M=
alaysia," said AFL-CIO global economic specialist Jeff Vogt. "We want to ma=
ke sure that trade between our two countries is equitable to our workers."

Vogt argued that there was no need for US FTAs to demand intellectual prope=
rty rights that went beyond the World Trade Organization regime. Neither wa=
s there a need for FTAs to grant excessive rights to investors. Joining for=
ces with developing countries' trade union movements to oppose FTAs "gives =
us more credibility in our advocacy in the United States [and allows us] to=
 say, 'look, we are not being protectionist'," he added.

[snip]