Sign-on Letter for Animal Advocacy Organizations

Opposed to Peru TPA

 

Dear Member of Congress:

 

We, the undersigned animal advocacy, are writing to express our opposition to the U.S. - Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. This agreement poses a serious threat to the welfare of billions of nonhuman animals, including farmed animals, marine animals, and terrestrial wildlife, as well as to human health and the environment.

 

Peru & U.S. Violate CITES & Endangered Species Act

Though the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has named big leaf Mahogany endangered, Peru still has not passed or enforced sufficient legislation to stop its illegal harvesting and trade, which makes up much of the exports to the United States. U.S. Fish & Wildlife are accused of accepting fraudulent permits for the lumber and U.S. companies have been found evading forest protection regulations. The Peru TPA does not require either country to respect the international environmental accords they continue to ignore.

 

Weak Environmental Protections & Strengthened Investor Rights

The trade agreement with Peru does not require either country to abide by any set of minimum environmental standards, nor does it mandate any form of sanctions for breaching key environmental treaties on biodiversity and species protection. It does, however, reinforce the trade rules in previous agreements which allow corporations to sue governments for lost profit if they believe a law, be it environmental or animal welfare, has hindered their ability to trade. Investor rights under the agreement have been expanded by broadening the definition of natural resources contracts. When faced with potential lawsuits, developing countries are less likely to create and enforce stringent environmental laws. The Peru agreement, like other trade agreements before it, continues to put corporate profits above the interests of humans, animals, and the environment.

 

Increased Investment & U.S. Exports Threaten Biological Diversity

Government estimates expect the largest increase in foreign investment to be in the mining sector. Mining operations create runoff of toxic chemicals like cyanide into watersheds where environmental groups have documented the loss of fish & amphibian populations, destruction of habitat, mercury spills, as well as an association with increased subsistence hunting and trafficking in endangered species. The Peruvian private sector anticipates expansion of forestry. Ecologists consider Peru’s forests biological hotspots which contain endangered and endemic species that are irreplaceable. Mahogany logging in the rainforests has resulted in the killing of thousands of tropical birds and mammals including thousands of primates and the loss of habitat.

 

We ask that all members of Congress recognize nonhuman animals as stakeholders when weighing the costs of this agreement. Mahatma Gandhi once said that, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Our nation must apply this principle to matters of international trade as well as domestic policy and members of Congress must vote “NO!” to this unethical agreement.