TTIP and CETA are trade deals in name only.

They would do little to lower trade tariffs between Europe and the USA/Canada for the simple reason that tariffs are low already.

What the deals would do is allow multinational corporations to take legal action against sovereign governments taking policy decisions to protect their citizens or deliver a fairer economy.

What might this look like?

Imagine a First Minister of Scotland who wanted to use the power of the parliament to deliver a Living Wage, prevent fracking or extend public ownership in a sector of the economy.

Anyone who heard Nicola Sturgeon or indeed Kezia Dugdale speaking at STUC Congress this week would not find that a difficult scenario to contemplate.

Imagine then that court proceedings were commenced, lasting years and costing millions, in which a multi-billion corporation sought to frustrate one of these policies because it affected their “right” to trade through delivering public services on the cheap or profiting from the despoliation of the environment.

Imagine then that the government called upon to defend this action was not from Holyrood, which passed the policy, but Westminster, which might very well oppose it.

Then consider one particular irony. If the case was lost, it would be the Scottish Government which paid the bill – fees, fines and all. This, in a nutshell, is the reason why all MSPs and the Scottish Government should sign the Scotland against TTIP pledge – to oppose TTIP, CETA and other trade agreements like them, if elected.

It is also the reason that I am disappointed that nearly all SNP candidates have yet to do so.

I understand that political parties are sometimes reluctant to be seen as “anti-trade”.

But TTIP and CETA are not about trade in the normal way we think of it.

I also understand that there might be a desire to negotiate TTIP into something better.

But the reforms which would be required would be so fundamental, as to contradict the very purpose of the deal the corporations desire.

The deal they want, we cannot accept.

Our day of action tomorrow is designed to drive this message home.

We know that SNP members and representatives are deeply alarmed by TTIP/CETA. How could they not be? We know that politicians and parties from across Europe, with which SNP members would sympathise, have joined the massive international movement opposing the deals.

It would be deeply ironic if the policies of a future SNP government were frustrated, not by Westminster, not in Europe, but by a bunch of unaccountable billionaires from anywhere across the globe.

Dave Moxham is Deputy General Secretary of the STUC



Trade unions and charities fight lead national day of action against TTIP