CAPE Statement on The Transpacific Partnership to Canada’s Committee on International Trade

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) expresses concern that the TPP's legal frameworks, specifically Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) provisions, may limit Canada's ability to implement essential climate mitigation and public health policies. The statement highlights risks such as corporate lawsuits over fossil fuel restrictions, increased pharmaceutical costs due to extended patents, and the potential for trade tribunals to override the precautionary principle in environmental health decision-making.

• The TPP's Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions may allow corporations to sue the Canadian government for lost profits resulting from regulatory changes intended to keep fossil fuels in the ground to meet climate targets.
• The Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) chapter of the TPP could prioritize international trade interests over standards designed to protect the environment and consumer health.
• There is a risk that the TPP undermines the 'Precautionary Principle'—the public health standard of taking preventative action despite scientific uncertainty—because the determination of 'legitimate' public welfare objectives is left to investment tribunals.
• Existing public health exceptions in trade agreements have historically been ineffective; the document notes that a similar WTO exception was successful in only one out of 43 cases.
• The TPP's intellectual property provisions may increase the cost of medications in Canada by extending patent protections and reducing generic competition, with some estimates suggesting conventional drug costs could rise by 6.2% to 12.9% starting in 2023.

APA

Howard, C. (2016). CAPE Statement on The Transpacific Partnership to Canada’s Committee on International Trade. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3.CAPE-Statement-on-the-TPP-to-Canadas-Committee-on-International-Trade-2016.pdf#new_tab

Chicago

Howard, Courtney. CAPE Statement on The Transpacific Partnership to Canada’s Committee on International Trade. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, 2016. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3.CAPE-Statement-on-the-TPP-to-Canadas-Committee-on-International-Trade-2016.pdf#new_tab.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Howard |first1=Courtney |title=CAPE Statement on The Transpacific Partnership to Canada’s Committee on International Trade |publisher=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |date=22 September 2016 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3.CAPE-Statement-on-the-TPP-to-Canadas-Committee-on-International-Trade-2016.pdf#new_tab |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{howard2016cape, author = {Howard, Courtney}, title = {{CAPE Statement on The Transpacific Partnership to Canada’s Committee on International Trade}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2016}, month = sep, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3.CAPE-Statement-on-the-TPP-to-Canadas-Committee-on-International-Trade-2016.pdf#new_tab}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }