Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
In our last issue we explored the question of state tion since there could be no protection of its ancient rice
sovereignty, pointing out that there is a very explicit culture, and Texas and California could supply all the
500 year history of corporate sovereignty over national cheap rice the Japanese could eat. Of course it is not
or state sovereignty, at least in regard to economies and New Zealand, California and Texas that actually sup-
trade. Obviously this has implications for the concept of ply the foods, but corporations that source it in these
food sovereignty. It is difficult, if not impossible, to locations – as long as it is profitable for them to do so.
achieve food sovereignty without building an alterna-
tive to corporate sovereignty in food processing and Japan might be able to pay for this imported food
distribution. by producing and selling automobiles – except that
Honda is leading the way to out-sourcing automobile
Since writing that last issue, we have done a lot of production with its plans to shift production of its FIT
reading and thinking about the significance of the latest model for the global market to China. This might be
trade agreement to command our attention, the Trans good for Honda corporation, but certainly not for the
Pacific Partnership, in preparation for a lecture in Japanese workers.
Japan. (see www.ramshorn.ca) As I thought about the
potential impact of the TPP for both Canada and Japan, As for the benefit to Canada as a ‘partner’ in the
I realized that even I have not been clear enough about TPP, Canadian beef and pork might find a good market
the fact that all trade agreements are agreements for in Japan, so the trade deal could increase exports, such
corporations made by their patron states. There is NO as oil, beef, pork, canola, etc.; but who would be the real
benefit to the people; the benefits go to the corporations beneficiaries? The corporations responsible for the Ca-
which essentially write the agreements and treaties. nadian food system are largely headquartered outside
This corporate governance is sold to the public as ‘a good of Canada, and their profits go to head office, whether
thing’ because we have been led to believe that economic that is Cargill in Minnesota or ADM in Illinois, Monsanto
growth is essential for any successful society and that in St. Louis, Missouri, Syngenta in Switzerland,
economic growth is best achieved by ensuring corporate Carrefour in France or Nestlé in Switzerland.
welfare. This is why an economy is measured by corpo-
rate profit and share value (price on stock exchange) The TPP is supposed to set ‘a new standard’ for
rather than health and welfare of the population. trade deals. One of its top demands is ‘national treat-
ment’, which means that foreign corporations are to be
So an economy is healthy if Loblaw’s, Sobey’s, treated as nationals, that is, the same as any corpora-
Monsanto, Cargill, BASF, Metro, Kraft, Potash Corp, tion of the host country. For example, Monsanto, or
Viterra and so on are showing increased or at least Cargill, would have to be treated as Japanese compa-
steady profits, regardless of the nutritional status of nies in Japan. This is also a core element of the proposed
everyone in the market – or not in the market due to CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agree-
lack of ‘purchasing power’. ment which Canada is working on with Europe. Tied
with this is the rule that all government procurement
Now let’s throw in a trade deal, such as the TPP. contracts must be open to foreign corporations without
If Japan were to be one of the countries agreeing to it, discrimination. This would mean no preference for local
along with Canada, the USA and New Zealand, Japan sources of food for school food programs, hospitals or
could look forward to New Zealand becoming Japan’s seniors residences – and much more. The ramifications
sole source of dairy products, accompanied by the disap- of this for local food movements everywhere are
pearance of any domestic dairy farms. Japan could also mindboggling.
look forward to the wiping out of domestic rice produc-
THE RAM’S HORN PAGE 3
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