Trans-Pacific Partnership text has been released

The long-awaited text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal was released on [November 5th, 2015], revealing the details of a pact aimed at freeing up commerce in 40 per cent of the world's economy but criticized for its opacity.

The partners — which in addition to Canada include Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam — have made commitments to discourage imports of goods produced by forced labour and to adopt laws on acceptable working conditions, and the first prohibition on harmful fisheries subsidies.

But TPP, which will set common standards on issues ranging from workers' rights to intellectual property protection in 12 Pacific nations, was kept largely from public scrutiny, angering transparency advocates concerned over its broad implications...

Chrystia Freeland, the new trade minister for the Liberals, will be responsible for ushering the deal through Parliament.

She told the CBC's Metro Morning show in Toronto that the Liberal Government plans to have a full and open debate on the pact in parliament.

This has been excerpted from the 5 November 2015 article by CBC News.