The Green Party has welcomed the 4th July 2016 decision by Dublin City Council to reject the TTIP Trade proposal and called for a closer link between trade deals and action on climate change.The decision was on foot of a motion submitted by the Green Party and was approved by a large majority of the council.Green Party Councillor Ciarán Cuffe said: “International trade is hugely important to Ireland’s economy, but we need to ensure that labour rights and the climate are protected, and we don’t pursue trade at all costs.“The proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is a race to the bottom for the environment and workers’ rights. The competitive advantage of Irish goods would be undermined by produce from States where no minimum wage applies. Irish meat would be threatened by imports heavy on antibiotics, and social and environmental criteria in public tenders could be challenged.“Free trade has allowed the world economy to expand over the centuries, but if we wish to tackle climate change and protect workers' rights we must insist on a trade deal that places these issues at the heart of the negotiating process. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership proposal does not do this, and in its current form must be rejected.”ENDSGreen Party Motion agreed by Dublin City Council at its monthly meeting on 4th July 2016 follows:"This council believes that:1. The proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) could have a detrimental impact on local services, employment, suppliers and decision making.2. A thorough impact assessment of TTIP/CETA on local authorities must be undertaken before the negotiations can be concluded.3. The proposed Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism has been used by corporations to overturn democratic decisions by all levels of governments at significant public cost. Local decision-making must be protected from ISDS.4. The EU’s food, environmental and labour standards are generally better than those in the US and TTIP/CETA negotiations must raise and not lower these standards across the EU and USA.5. Sourcing supplies and employment locally is important to strengthening local economies and meeting local needs. TTIP must not impact on local authorities’ ability to act in the best interests its communities.This council resolves:1. To write to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charles Flanagan TD and all Dublin MEPs raising our serious concerns about the impact of TTIP/CETA on local authorities and the secrecy of the negotiating process.2. To write to the Association of Irish Local Government to raise our serious concerns about the impact of TTIP on local authorities and ask them to raise these with government on our behalf.3. To call for an impact assessment on the impact of TTIP/CETA on local authorities.4. To publicise the council’s concerns about TTIP/CETA; join with other local authorities which are opposed to TTIP/CETA across Europe and work with local campaigners to raise awareness about the problems of TTIP/CETA, and rejects the current proposal.”Page last updated 11th July 2016