Letter: Ask lawmakers to stand strong against TPP

The proposed Trans Pacific Partnership, (TPP) is a bad idea.

This proposal holds layers of negative issues and maybe the most detrimental is the fact that the U.S. would lose the right to settle disputes with its government's own laws.

TPP would be ruled by the 'investor state dispute settlement” (ISDS), which would be allowed to challenge domestic laws that could impact their 'expected future profits.”

Under NAFTA, the ISDS has been used by Trans Canada in 2016 suing the U.S. government for $15 billion over the blocking of the Keystone XL Pipeline. We, the taxpayers, would be on the hook for that.

Another example was when Vattenfall, a Swedish co-owner of a nuclear plant in Germany, under ISDS threatened to file a billion-euro lawsuit, when German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, following the Fukushima disaster shut down several nuclear plants.

The TPP significantly threatens U.S. environmental laws and life on this planet will become more endangered.

ISDS lawsuits, which can only be brought by foreign corporations and investors, do not pass through U.S. courts.

The TPP has been finalized in February 2016 by participating countries and is awaiting approval by Congress.

It is imperative that you call your representatives and ask them to stand strong against TPP.

Help to inform the public on the issues and details involved in TPP detrimental to American practices, values and laws.

Renata E. Sack

Waterloo