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No Trade in Public Services

The recent wave of trade agreements are direct threats to the provision of Quality Public Services. These new agreements encourage privatisation, restrict governments’ ability to regulate in the public interest and create new and powerful rights for large multinational corporations. They are also a threat to democracy and accountability of government. They are being negotiated in secret, without proper consultation and will bind future governments, often regardless of the decisions of national elections, parliaments and courts. PSI urges all affiliates to understand the implications and join our allies to oppose the harmful effects of these agreements.

PSI attends RCEP workshop in Bangalore, India

02 June 2017

PSI affiliates and civil society organisations held a two-day workshop on 2-3 April on the proposed free trade agreement Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RECP).

Labor groups raise grave concerns over RCEP

09 May 2017

Representatives from major trade unions in both the public and private sectors have raised serious concerns on the possible impacts of the Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (RCEP) which is currently being negotiated in Manila.

NO to RCEP - Stop trading workers’ rights over profits

09 May 2017

The 18th round of RCEP negotiations began yesterday in Manila as civil society organisations express deep concern about the mega trade agreement being negotiated secretly by 16 nations, including the 10 ASEAN members plus Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, China and India, spanning 50% of the world population and 29% of the world’s GDP.

Trade unions and farmer groups reject RCEP

13 April 2017

At a meeting organised by PSI, the Forum Against FTAs, La via Campesina and others, more than 100 representatives of people’s movements from southern Indian states discussed the implications of the proposed mega free trade agreement - Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

CETA: backward step for the environment, global inequalities and workers' rights

15 February 2017

The EU-Canada trade deal ratified by the European Parliament today is a step backward for tackling some of the world's biggest crises and will do nothing to improve the lives of the majority of citizens in either region, according to organisations representing civil society, workers and the environment.

Stop TiSA demonstration in Geneva

06 December 2016

On 4 December 2016 about 1000 people marched through Geneva calling citizens to mobilize against the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA). Public Services International and its affiliate SSP/VPOD together with approximately 20 organisations, including solidaritéS, Les Verts and ATTAC GE participated in the protest.

PSI supports the release of ICRICT's second declaration

16 November 2016

"Four Ways to Tackle International Tax Competition" was launched on 15 November in Brussels by the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT).

Public health care vs. the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement

04 February 2014
Public health care vs the TPP agreement

A PSI - North America strategic briefing

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations are set to erect the largest, most comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) in the world today. The negotiations include 12 nation states of the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam - with South Korea still considering its incorporation.

Public Services for the Public Good: PSI statement on the Trade In Services Agreement (TISA)

02 December 2013

Universal quality public services and decent work are goals of economic development, to which international trade is but a means. Trade treaty rules should not force privatisation, nor interfere with the restoration or expansion of public services, where experiments with private provision fail or are rejected by democratically-elected governments. Trade treaties must not close policy space or inhibit innovation in public service provision.

Global Unions Statement of Priorities for the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference

28 November 2013

In the wake of the on-going economic crisis brought on in no small measure by the same de-regulatory forces that champion trade liberalisation, there is a real opportunity for the global community to re-think existing trade rules and arrangements. World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) accords have adversely impacted farmers and workers and they have reduced policy and regulatory space needed to actively promote decent jobs and quality public services.

PSI Statement on the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference

27 November 2013

The results of decades of corporate-led globalisation are clear for the majority of the world. Unemployment continues to afflict millions and is especially acute for the world’s youth. Inequality is growing and quality public services and labour rights are being undermined. Liberalisation of and financial speculation in commodities markets has produced ruinous price fluctuations for food and shortages that create untold harm and avoidable loss of life. The global economic crisis caused by the reckless and unregulated actions of the private financial markets has created untold suffering for workers and is now being used as the reason to implement punitive and misguided austerity programmes.

Presentation: Trade and Services Agreement and Public Services

17 October 2013

Trade presentation given by Daniel Bertossa, PSI Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer, at the PSI Asia Pacific Quality Public Services Forum in Bangkok, Thailand - October 2013

Presentation: Multinational Tax Avoidance

17 October 2013

Multinational Tax Avoidance and the OECD's base erosion and profit shifting (BEPs) process

Trade presentation given by Daniel Bertossa, PSI Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer, at the PSI Asia Pacific Quality Public Services Forum in Bangkok, Thailand - October 2013

Presentation: How ‘free trade’ & investment treaties attack public services & why we have to fight them

17 October 2013

Trade presentation given by Professor Jane Kelsey, from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, at the PSI Asia Pacific Quality Public Services Forum in Bangkok, Thailand - October 2013