Malaysia's Slave System Gets Obama's Approval

Summary

The report from Zack Carter of the Washington Post highlights the Obama Administration's dilemma over the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed trade deal. An amendment to combat human trafficking threatens to exclude Malaysia, known for serious violations, from the TPP. The administration's struggle to remove the anti-slavery provision for the sake of the trade deal raises questions about moral integrity and corporate influence in policy-making. The narrative also criticizes the inclusion of Brunei, which recently implemented Sharia law, further complicating the debate on human rights and trade.

Takeaways

• 📰 The Washington Post report by Zack Carter reveals a conflict between President Obama's support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the fight against human trafficking.
• 🌏 The TPP is a proposed free trade agreement involving 11 countries, including Malaysia, which has been criticized for its human rights record.
• 🔄 An amendment to a bill in the Senate aims to prevent fast-tracking trade deals with countries that tolerate human trafficking, which could exclude Malaysia from the TPP.
• 🏭 The Malaysian electronics industry is highlighted as a sector where forced labor, including sex slavery, is particularly prevalent.
• 🤔 The Obama Administration is in a difficult position, as it may need to oppose an anti-slavery provision to maintain the TPP as currently structured.
• 🗣️ The report suggests that the administration's stance could be seen as prioritizing corporate interests over moral principles.
• 📈 Critics argue that so-called 'free trade' deals like the TPP can lead to job losses and negatively impact the American middle class.
• 🤝 The U.S. has recently included Brunei in the TPP, a country that has implemented Sharia law, which raises questions about the consistency of the U.S.'s moral stance in international relations.
• 💡 The argument presented is that the U.S. should take a stronger moral stance by not engaging in trade with countries that have poor human rights records.
• 🔄 The script points out the hypocrisy of U.S. foreign policy, which claims to fight for freedom and democracy while engaging in trade with nations that do not uphold these values.
• 👥 The script criticizes both the Republican and Democratic parties for being too closely aligned with corporate interests and for not adequately representing the needs of the American middle class.

Q & A

What is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) mentioned in the script?

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a proposed trade agreement that aims to promote economic growth; enhance innovation, productivity, and competitiveness; raise living standards; reduce poverty; and promote transparency, good governance, and enhanced labor and environmental protections. It has been a subject of controversy due to concerns about job outsourcing and impacts on national sovereignty.

Why is the human trafficking provision a threat to President Obama's trade agenda according to the script?

The human trafficking provision is a threat because it could potentially exclude countries like Malaysia, which has a record of human rights violations, from the TPP. This would disrupt the trade pact and complicate the administration's efforts to streamline the TPP through FastTrack powers.

What is the FastTrack provision mentioned in the script?

FastTrack is a trade negotiation authority that allows the U.S. Congress to give the President the power to negotiate international agreements that Congress can approve or disapprove but cannot amend or filibuster. The script suggests that the administration is seeking FastTrack powers to facilitate the TPP agreement.

Why is Malaysia a point of contention in the TPP discussions according to the script?

Malaysia is a point of contention because it has been identified by the U.S. State Department as having serious human trafficking violations, including forced labor and sex slavery, particularly in its electronics industry. The Senate's amendment to bar trade deals with such countries puts Malaysia at risk of being excluded from the TPP.

What is the Obama Administration's awkward position as described in the script?

The awkward position of the Obama Administration is that they are in a situation where they may have to oppose or strip out an anti-slavery provision from the FastTrack Bill in order to keep Malaysia in the TPP, which could be seen as prioritizing corporate interests over human rights.

What is the connection made in the script between the TPP and other controversial countries?

The script connects the TPP to other controversial countries by mentioning Brunei, which recently implemented Sharia law, and questions why the U.S. is willing to do business with countries that have implemented such laws, despite opposing them in other contexts like Afghanistan.

What is the script's stance on the moral implications of trade deals with countries that have poor human rights records?

The script criticizes the moral implications of engaging in trade deals with countries that have poor human rights records, such as those practicing slavery or implementing Sharia law, suggesting that the U.S. should not tolerate such practices for the sake of business.

What is the script's view on the role of corporations in shaping U.S. trade policy?

The script suggests that U.S. trade policy, including the TPP, is heavily influenced by corporate interests, to the extent that it questions the moral integrity of the administration in its approach to human rights issues in trade agreements.

How does the script characterize the Democratic and Republican parties' approach to trade deals?

The script characterizes both parties as being largely sold out to corporations and the rich, with the Democrats occasionally appearing more reasonable on social issues but ultimately also prioritizing corporate interests over the welfare of the American middle class in trade deals.

What is the script's perspective on the U.S. government's moral arguments for overseas interventions?

The script is highly skeptical of the U.S. government's moral arguments for overseas interventions, suggesting that they are often hypocritical and motivated more by geopolitical power, control, and economic interests rather than genuine concern for freedom and democracy.

What is the script's final message regarding the importance of scrutinizing government actions and rhetoric?

The script's final message emphasizes the importance of scrutinizing government actions and rhetoric, particularly in the context of trade deals and overseas interventions, to hold them accountable for their moral inconsistencies and to challenge the narratives they present to the public.