Statement: TransCanada suit illustrates problem with TPP, trade deals

For immediate release
January 6, 2016

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Canadian pipeline company TransCanada gave notice that it intends to sue the U.S. government for over $15 billion under the North American Free Trade Agreement Chapter 11.

Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica had this response:

TransCanada’s Keystone XL permit was denied because construction of the pipeline was not in the United States national interest. Instead of honoring President Obama’s reasoned decision, TransCanada wants to turn to secretive trade tribunals to force American taxpayers to compensate it for a project that should never have been proposed.

This is why Friends of the Earth opposes the TransPacific Partnership and other trade agreements, which allow companies and investors to challenge sovereign government decisions to protect public health and the environment.

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Communications contact: EA Dyson, (202) 222-0730, [email protected]