Source: http://www.foodpolitics.com/2016/05/those-top-secret-trade-agreements-leaked-ttip-documents/
A couple of years ago, I wrote a long post attempting to explain the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), a trade agreement under negotiation since then with the European Union. Like all trade agreements, this one is done secretly, making it difficult for interested parties to weigh in.
But Greenpeace Netherlands has now leaked what it says are the texts of 13 chapters of the TTIP. These include 248 pages of internal documents dating from TTIP talks at some uncertain date. These include chapters about food and agriculture, as well as many other issues.
The documents include a 25-page “Tactical State of Play” on the negotiations similar to a 20-page public EU report, but with more detail on points of disagreement and consensus.
Greenpeace claims that the documents demonstrate major risks for the climate, environment and consumer safety. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative strongly disagrees, and European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malström says the leaked documents only reflect negotiating positions.
I took a look at the leaked Chapter X Agriculture [US: Market Access]. The European Union proposes, for example:
[On public health and safety] The Parties recognize that their respective societal choices may differ with respect to public policy decisions affecting agriculture. In this regard, nothing in this Agreement will restrain the Parties from taking measures necessary to achieve legitimate p…