South Berwick tackles TPP treaty with help of state senators

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine Representatives of Maine's two U.S. senators addressed town councilors regarding the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement at the council's Tuesday meeting.

Bonita Pothier of Sen. Angus King's office and Cathy Goodwin of Sen. Susan Collins' York office were asked by town councilors to explain the senators' positions on TPP, as well as to clarify aspects of the proposed agreement.

Also present at the meeting was South Berwick resident Mike Hasty, who asked the council to support a resolution opposing TPP.

While she has not yet taken a stand on TPP, Collins "tries to make sure that any agreement meets the best interests of Maine and the United States," Goodwin said. The senator's representative also indicated Collins is concerned about the proposed fast-track process for the treaty. Through this process, Congress could only vote "yes" or "no" on TPP it would lose any authority to make changes to the treaty.

Pothier indicated King is "very concerned that negotiations for this treaty are taking place behind closed doors" and, like Collins, is seeking protections for regional shoemaker New Balance that would enable it to better compete with the Vietnam shoe industry.

"When the public hears about fast-track and closed doors, it doesn't sit very well with the people of South Berwick, or the rest of the United States," Councilor Jack Kareckas said following remarks by Pothier and Goodwin.

Kareckas also cited TPP's possible impact on what he called "home rule authority."

According to TPP critics, transnational corporations could bring litigation against towns or even local property owners in global tribunals if they believed their ability to make a profit was being curtailed.

Councilor Jean Demetracopoulos criticized a TPP proposal that would eliminate country-of-origin tags and labels attached to clothes and similar products.

"'Made in Maine' helps us to market ourselves on quality," she said. "We would lose an effective tool to promote our products."

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South Berwick tackles TPP treaty with help of state senators