Environmentalists, unions protest Pacific trade pact in Maui

LAHAINA, Maui — Opponents of a Pacific Rim trade deal being negotiated at a Maui resort demonstrated against the proposed pact Wednesday.

A couple of dozen members of locally based labor unions and environmental groups gathered at Kaanapali Beach fronting the Westin Maui hotel in Lahaina.

Protest organizers said in a statement the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement would benefit a few major corporations while sacrificing protections for public health, the environment, local jobs and indigenous rights.

Ministers negotiating at the resort this week are from 12 nations: the United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

The agreement would lower tariffs and other trade barriers while setting labor and environmental standards for its participants.

The Obama administration said the pact would boost U.S. economic growth and help keep high-quality jobs in the country by increasing exports.

The protesters gathered at the beach blew conch shells, called pu in Hawaiian.

“We chose the pu for this demonstration because in ancient times, the sound of the pu was a call to attention — a kahea (call) to recognize something important is about to occur,” event organizer Trinette Furtado said. “Today is a call to attention, to join together against this attempt to put profits over people.”

Marti Townsend, director of the Sierra Club of Hawaii, said the state has some of the strongest environmental laws in the world, but they would be “gutted” if the agreement is adopted.