For Immediate Release
Ufuoma Otu, (202) 454-5108, uotu@citizen.org, Matthew Groch (202) 454-5111, mgroch@citizen.org
U.S., Mexican and Canadian Civil Society Groups Deliver Hundreds of Thousands of “ISDS-Out-of-NAFTA” Petitions as Fourth Round of Renegotiation Talks Starts in Washington
WASHINGTON - Press conference, rally, petition delivery. Member of Congress, union presidents and other civil society leaders demand that Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) be eliminated from NAFTA during renegotiations. Trump administration officials are expected to table a proposal on the controversial NAFTA investment chapter later the same day. ISDS makes it less risky and expensive for corporations to outsource jobs and empowers them to attack domestic policies that protect public health and the environment by going before tribunals of three corporate lawyers who can order unlimited compensation be paid to the corporations by taxpayers. Participating organizations will deliver hundreds of thousands of petitions demanding NAFTA’s special protections for investors be eliminated. Civil society organizations and unions throughout North America are united in demanding ISDS be eliminated from NAFTA. Last month, a major association of small businesses sent a letter signed by more than 100 firms calling for elimination of ISDS in NAFTA.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 11, 10:15 a.m.
(the first day of the fourth round of NAFTA talks)
WHERE: House Triangle, U.S. Capitol Building
WHO: Speakers include: U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan)
U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota)
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio)
Petitions from:
AFL-CIO
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Center for International Environmental Law
Citizens Trade Campaign
Corporate Accountability International
Council of Canadians
CREDO Action
Communications Workers of America
Daily Kos
Demand Progress
Democracy for America
Derechos Digitales
Food and Water Watch Action Fund
Franciscan Action Network
Friends of the Earth
Global Exchange
Good Jobs Nation
Machinists Union
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Interfaith Workers Justice
International Corporate Accountability Roundtable
International Labor Rights Forum
Just Foreign Policy
Leadnow
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Open Media
Our Revolution
People Demanding Action
Presbyterian Church (U.S.)
Presente Action
Progressive Congress Action Fund
Public Citizen GTW
Sierra Club
SumOfUS
Teamsters
Trade Justice Network (Canada)
United Church of Christ
United Electrical Workers
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