Scottish Cabinet to Be Handed Petition to Block TTIP Trade Deal With US

A petition calling on the SNP-controlled Scottish government to oppose a controversial EU-US trade deal is due to go before the Cabinet on Tuesday, according to the anti-TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) grassroots movement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The TTIP trade deal has faced sharp criticism from activists and policymakers alike for the secretive nature of its negotiations. It aims to deregulate trade between the United States and the European Union, which together comprise 60 percent of global production.

More than 28,500 people have signed the petition on the 38 Degrees website urging Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Europe and External Affairs and member of the ruling Scottish National Party, to make sure that the SNP "takes a tougher stand against TTIP."

Scotland’s Stop TTIP Today campaign website said the petition will be submitted to the Scottish government on Tuesday afternoon.

Another petition urging the European Union to stop the TTIP agreement has meanwhile gathered more than 3 million signatures on the petition website.

The secretive deal has drawn widespread criticism for its potential to lower environmental, health, safety, and workers’ rights standards, as well as for enabling the extra-judicial settlement of disputes in circumvention of national sovereignty.