1 of 2 Default Opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership

Dear Co​-Chairs Malloy and Franklin and the Democratic Platform Committee:

We, the undersigned Hillary Clinton and delegates, are united in our unequivocal opposition to the to the Trans​Pacific Partnership (TPP). While we appreciate inclusion of language in the current version of the platform which outlines shared principles for the standards fair trade agreements should meet, we believe that is simply not enough. The Platform must make clear that the TPP fails to meet those standards and that we oppose its passage should it come before Congress for a vote. The TPP represents the continuation of trade policies that have led to a global race to the bottom for workers’ rights and wages, and to continuing job losses, which undermine our economy and our communities.

TPP is not only a labor issue. Opposition comes from many segments of the Democratic Party base. The environmental community opposes TPP because of the special powers afforded corporations through the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) process that have led to overturning national, state and local environmental regulations or protections. The NAACP and others have expressed concerns about the TPP’s impact on public services and jobs in low​income communities of color. Communities of faith have expressed concern that some potential signatory countries persecute citizens because of their religious beliefs. Immigrant Rights organizations have made clear their opposition based on the waves of forced migration that the TPP would unleash as happened under NAFTA and CAFTA. LGBTQ organizations are concerned about the inclusion of countries like Malaysia and Brunei, which mandate death for LGBTQ citizens. Affirming our opposition to TPP is an important step in demonstrating the unity of all parts of our Party.

Further, as Donald Trump desperately tries to salvage his candidacy by tapping into the public’s deep anxiety about stagnant wages and disappearing middle​class jobs—particularly in critical swing states that have been hardest hit by trade​-induced deindustrialization—he is wielding bad trade agreements as an effective political cudgel against our ​likely nominee. It is absolutely critical that the platform we adopt in Philadelphia leave no doubt that Democrats are the true champions of the fight to preserve and expand good jobs in America. It must make clear that we oppose the TPP because if its failure to meet the high standards we believe should be enshrined in our trade agreements. We must address head on those who would say they are for fair trade when in reality they would do great damage to the working people we represent. We look forward to working with you to ensure inclusion of such language.

In Unity,

Total signatures: 56 Name State Comment 1. Hetty Rosenstein NJ 2. Sandra Rhue NJ 3. Bertin Lefkovic NJ 4. Abdul-Basit Haqq NJ 5. Gaye Palmer 6. Franceline Ehret NJ 7. Sherri Palmer 8. Kristen Affrime NJ 9. Tina Bernstein-Camins 10. Roberta Wertz NJ 11. Jennifer Long NJ 12. Peter Jacob 13. Cornel West 14. Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg NJ 15. Vera Fozman NJ 16. Jayasri Ganapathy NJ 17. Derel Stroud NJ 18. Stephenine Dixon NJ 19. Troy Singleton NJ 20. Richard Tolson NJ 21. Jeff Epstein NJ 22. NJ 23. Lizette Delgado-Polanco NJ 24. Brett Pugach 25. Lonnie Affrime NJ 26. Danielle Pocock NJ 27. Assad Akhter NJ 2 of 2 Default Name State Comment 28. Albert Granell NJ 29. Karin Elkis NJ 30. Seth Hahn NJ 31. Jenelle Blackmon 32. Steven Goldstein NJ 33. NJ 34. Ann Twomey NJ 35. Carrie Parikh NJ 36. Michelle Torres NC 37. Joseph Andl NJ 38. Tim O'Donovan 39. Jim Keady NJ 40. John Wisniewski NJ 41. Phyllis Salowe-Kaye 42. Wayne Lewis NJ 43. Rosalie Efthim NJ 44. Elizabeth Maratea NJ 45. Chrissy Buteas NJ 46. Sarah Pallone NJ 47. Annette Quijano NJ 48. Ken McNamara NJ 49. Philip Murphy NJ 50. Catherine Majewski 51. Joseph Novick NJ 52. NJ 53. Reni Erdos NJ 54. Dianne Douthat NJ 55. Tricia Mueller 56. Michelle McFadden-DiNicola NJ