Maine Citizens Trade Policy Commission discusses SPP

“Atlantica,” the eastern Canada and Northeastern US section of the Security and Prosperity Partnership, came under discussion recently at a meeting of the Maine Citizens Trade Policy Commission, which Bonnie Preston, national council member, attended. She reports that the commission was very interested in both Atlantic and the broader SPP agenda. The trade commission assesses the impact of international trade policies and agreements on Maine’s laws, business environment and working conditions.

Speaking in favor of the Atlantica development program was Brian Crowley, president of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies. Leo Broderick, of Council of Canadians, offered the perspective of several groups, including AfD, who see both Atlantica and SPP as inherently undemocratic and unsustainable. Broderick gave the context of Atlantica in global trade terms and pointed out, among other things, that Crowley completely the emerging crises of global climate change and peak oil. Broderick also linked Atlantica to the larger Security and Prosperity Partnership.

Bonnie noted that part of the SPP program on transportation—a super-highway into the US from a deepwater port in Halifax—is getting press attention in Maine. The proposed highway would cut east-west across the northern part of the state, be privately constructed, and be financed by multinationals.