WashingtonWatch.com - Comments for H.R. 4180, To allow United States citizens to bring civil actions against persons who fail to perform an act or duty under the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 Comment by Robert C. Brown (December 5, 2007, 13:37:16) http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_4180.html#24192 This bill is a serious attempt to further encroach on Peru's sovereignty. If enacted, a U.S. citizen (or corporation) would be able to sure Peru or any Peruvian citizen or entity for violating the "Free Trade" Agreement. This means, if the Peruvian government decides to uphold national environmental standards or set a minimum wage, they could be sued under U.S. law (NOT international or Peruvian law!). We saw a similar case to this hypothetical one in Costa Rica a few years back when Harken, a Texas based oil company, attempted to sue the Costa Rican government for upholding environmental standards in regards to oil speculation and extraction for more then their yearly G.D.P. If CAFTA (similar to the Peru Free Trade Agreement) had been in effect in Costa Rica, as it is now, this lawsuit very well could have been won.... 24192@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:37:16 EST