Berkeley to oppose TPP and TAFTA?

Berkeley to oppose TPP and TAFTA?
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Clerk/City_Council/2014/07_Jul/Documents/2014-07-08_Item_34_Oppose_the_Trans-Pacific.aspx

On July 8th, during the city council meeting, Berkeley city government is scheduled to oppose the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) and TAFTA (Trans Atlantic Free Trade Agreement). Berkeley government did not support the protest on campus against the TPP, outside the site of the Paul Jacobs Design Institute. Paul Jacobs is the executive director and former CEO of Qualcomm, a member of the TPP business coalition.  The city agreed to the removal of a grove of redwoods, clearing the lot for the Paul Jacobs building against popular opposition to another privatized, corporate-linked building on campus at the loss of more trees in Berkeley.

For now, the proposal against the TPP and TAFTA is placed on the consent calendar - which means that as of now, members of council and the mayor are in agreement to oppose the trade agreements without debate.  However, at the start of the city council meeting, the agenda item could be placed on the action calendar opening it up for debate.  While it is not common, it does happen from time to time that consent items are moved to the action calendar and then defeated in the debate and subsequent vote.

The proposal is not just a statement against the TPP and TAFTA, but the proposal includes a motion to declare the city of Berkeley to be a TPP and TAFTA-free zone in the case that the agreements are finalized and go through.  The proposal does not clarify how Berkeley would be a TPP and TAFTA-free zone, and what steps city government would take if the TPP and TAFTA are to pass.  The city of Berkeley doesn't have much power over what stores sell, and where local stores source their goods.

A possible action the city could take is to agree that all the various city government agencies buy local goods (made in California or made in the US).  Another possible action the city could take would be to promote a buy local campaign.  But a city government doesn't have much control over purchasing choices made by residents.  The city can none-the-less make residents aware of the TPP and the businesses that make up its supporting business coalition, so residents can try to make more informed purchasing decisions.  The city can make residents aware of TAFTA as well.  The city and its residents can promote local farmers markets, and local crafts-persons and artists.

The city of Berkeley is technically is in opposition to the NAFTA.  But it is not actually clear how Berkeley's economy is that different from a city that did not vote to oppose NAFTA.  Berkeley's opposition to NAFTA doesn't stop controversial trade goods from entering Berkeley stores.  A stereotypical Berkeley example is the sale of quinoa at supermarkets and restaurants.  The import of quinoa into the US drove up the prices of quinoa in Boliva and Peru, making it harder for their own people to afford.  The desire for a food trend in the US, put a stress on economies and food supplies where the food is grown.  Berkeley's opposition to NAFTA has not effected the car dealerships in Berkeley; American made is not promoted any more than cars made overseas.

Berkeley is not a major exporter; it's economy is based on education, food and hospitality industries, medical/therapy industry, repair services, retail, and arts.  Berkeley doesn't have many businesses that do heavy manufacturing, and the city does not have farms.  (The dairy producer Berkeley Farms is located in Hayward California, not in Berkeley, and they don't have grazing land in Berkeley either.)  Even if there were many manufacturing businesses in Berkeley, the city government wouldn't have much say over their ability to export.  The biggest manufacturer in Berkeley is Bayer, which is a German multinational corporation.

Berkeley can vote to oppose the TPP and TAFTA fairly easily, but it will take creativity to promote locally sourced goods, and to promote an economy that favors small businesses over major corporations.

Notably, this year, the historic Claremont Hotel, a Berkeley landmark was bought by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts (FRHI Hotels & Resorts).  Fairmont is owned by investors in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.  trade with neither Saudi Arabia or Qatar are covered by NAFTA or TAFTA, but the hotel is just an example of transnational economics.  An increasing amount of real-estate in the Bay Area, including Berkeley, is being purchased by overseas investors.