“A New Generation of Free Trade Agreements That Privilege Business Interests Over Human Rights”, 30 Aug 2016

…The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is currently being negotiated between ASEAN and six other countries that are its existing FTA (free trade agreement) partners…The RCEP will have implications for the human rights of peoples in ASEAN and beyond it.  It is amongst the new generation of FTAs that privileges business interests and investor rights over ordinary people. While trade agreements like RCEP create legally binding obligations on governments, human rights obligations remain as matters of mere co-operation.  There must be ex ante human rights impact assessment of the trade agreements and investment treaties that are being negotiated by the ASEAN Community.  National human rights institutions (NHRIs) in all RCEP countries must pitch in to help government assess the social impacts of mega regional FTAs that are being negotiated.  The matters on the table all affect the daily lives of the peoples of all sixteen countries involved in these negotiations...ASEAN members and its trading partners need to give attention to more than just trade agreements for the promises made to the people of the region.