Don’t fast track a polluters’ bill of rights

Friends of the Earth opposes the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act (HR 3830/S 1900), arguing that its 'Fast Track' authority would shift power from Congress to the executive branch and rush the approval of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The organization contends that these agreements would allow corporations to sue governments for the costs of complying with environmental regulations and could undermine climate measures, such as efforts to block the Keystone XL pipeline or fossil fuel export terminals. Additionally, the document warns that the agreements could inhibit the use of the 'precautionary principle' regarding toxic chemicals and food safety, and potentially lead to the privatization of nature through patents on plants and animals.

• The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act (HR 3830/S 1900) would shift power from Congress to the executive branch, allowing the TPP and TTIP to be passed without amendment or significant debate.
• The TPP and TTIP would enable foreign investors to seek monetary damages from tribunals for the costs of complying with environmental and consumer regulations, including lost future profits.
• Climate and energy policies are specifically at risk, including potential legal challenges to the decision to stop the Keystone XL pipeline or the blocking of fossil fuel export terminals in the U.S.
• The trade agreements could undermine the 'precautionary principle' in the regulation of food imports, toxic chemicals, and genetically engineered products by encouraging the use of cost-benefit analysis.
• The TPP's intellectual property chapter may encourage the privatization of nature by providing legal protections for patents on animals and plants.

APA

Fox, A. (2014). Don’t fast track a polluters’ bill of rights. Friends of the Earth. https://foe.org/blog/2014-01-dont-fast-track-a-polluters-bill-of-rights/

Chicago

Fox, Audrey. Don’t fast track a polluters’ bill of rights. Friends of the Earth, 2014. https://foe.org/blog/2014-01-dont-fast-track-a-polluters-bill-of-rights/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Fox |first1=Audrey |title=Don’t fast track a polluters’ bill of rights |publisher=Friends of the Earth |date=24 January 2014 |url=https://foe.org/blog/2014-01-dont-fast-track-a-polluters-bill-of-rights/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{fox2014dont, author = {Fox, Audrey}, title = {{Don’t fast track a polluters’ bill of rights}}, publisher = {Friends of the Earth}, year = {2014}, month = jan, url = {https://foe.org/blog/2014-01-dont-fast-track-a-polluters-bill-of-rights/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }