Despite frequent denials by European trade officials, they are targeting public services in the current round of services negotiations. The Alliance for Democracy has received leaked official European Commission (EC) documents confirming that the U.S. Postal Service and municipal water/sewer systems are on the negotiating table. The E.C. even wants their businesses to be eligible for federal small business administration loans now restricted to U.S. citizens.
The documents, being made public today by the Polaris Institute of Canada, are available at http://www.polarisinstitute.org They reveal that the E.C. has requested that the United States adopt favorable trade rules to help open its federal postal system and municipal water/sewer systems to competition by European corporations.
"From the mail we receive to the water we drink, the European requests show that our basic public services are under threat," observed Ruth Caplan, coordinator of the Alliance for Democracy's trade campaign. "European corporations want global trade rules so they can profit each time we drink a glass of water or send a letter to Grandma."
The documents, being made public today by the Polaris Institute of Canada, are available at http://www.polarisinstitute.org They reveal that the E.C. has requested that the United States adopt favorable trade rules to help open its federal postal system and municipal water/sewer systems to competition by European corporations.
"From the mail we receive to the water we drink, the European requests show that our basic public services are under threat," observed Ruth Caplan, coordinator of the Alliance for Democracy's trade campaign. "European corporations want global trade rules so they can profit each time we drink a glass of water or send a letter to Grandma."