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Trade in Services Agreement (TISA)

PSI is currently undertaking further research on the effects of the TISA on our sectors. PSI will be working with civil society and other allies to oppose the harmful effects of the TISA.

Rosa Pavanelli speaks to over 3000 delegates at the ‪Teamsters 2016‬ conference

29 June 2016
Rosa Pavanelli

PSI's General Secretary was invited to speak on the need to fight bad trade agreements - like TPP, TTIP, TiSA and CETA - at the 29th Teamsters International Convention.

Database on TISA

28 June 2016

You will find here everything related to the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA): documents, videos, notes, reports and studies.

Bad Investments: Trading Away the Right to Energy Democracy

04 June 2016

The recent release by Wikileaks of documents relating to the "Trade in Services Agreement" (TiSA) - currently being negotiated in secret in Geneva - has brought a new round of scrutiny not only to the TiSA, but also to the sweeping effort to re-write international trade and investment rules of which it constitutes just a part.

TiSA undermines COP21 action says analysis of leaked annex on Energy

30 May 2016

Greenpeace, trade unions and the global trade network Our World Is Not For Sale (OWINFS) claim TiSA is the latest secretly negotiated trade deal that undermines climate change action.

Campaign against TPPA and TISA approved in PSI's regional meeting in Chile

13 April 2016

Representatives of unions affiliated to PSI agreed to make mobilization efforts, partnerships with civil society, lobbying parliaments and campaign material that allows raising public awareness through simple language to explain the negative impact of this type of treaty.

The great climate change swindle

03 December 2015
Photo: Billy Wilson - Creative Commons

As Heads of State prepare to negotiate an international accord in Paris against global warming, their trade negotiators are meeting in Geneva to secretly forge a new free trade agreement that could expand fossil fuels’ exploitation and cause further climate change.

TISA is more dangerous than TTIP and CETA – yet largely unknown

20 November 2015
Jürgen Buxbaum

In an interview with Heike Langenberg from PSI’s German affiliate Ver.di on 20 May 2015, Jürgen Buxbaum from Public Services International (PSI) outlines the consequences of TISA for us all.

Switzerland’s largest city declares “Tisa-Free Zone”

06 November 2015
Zurich declared TISA-Free zone

The city of Zurich has voted to declare itself a TISA-free zone, in a move which emphasizes a growing resistance to the secret trade talks. A proposal introduced to the Zurich Communal Council by the Green Party was passed by a firm majority and could help to establish a precedent for other regions across Europe who may hope to do the same.

Uruguay abandons TiSA

11 September 2015
Roberto Bissio

Just a week before the deadline for submitting national offers on liberalization of services sectors under the on-going “secret” talks for a “Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), Uruguay President Tabaré Vázquez decided on Monday, 7 September, to abandon the plurilateral negotiations and has directed the government to comply.

Uruguay abandons TISA negotiations! A victory for PSI affiliates

08 September 2015
President of uruguay

With a statement on the President’s website and following political debate on the issue, President Tabaré Vázques announced on 7 September that Uruguay will leave the TISA negotiations.

New TISA leaks confirm PSI concerns on deregulation and secrecy

30 June 2015
Photo: Padlock by Dmitriy - Creative Commons

PSI, 1 July 2015 – Yet another series of leaks confirm PSI’s repeated concerns on the restriction of governments’ right to regulate in the public interest as well as underlining the lack of transparency surrounding the Trade In Service Agreement (TISA) negotiations.

Massive leak of TISA trade documents “highlights madness of secrecy”

02 June 2015
Photo: Alberto Ortiz - Creative Commons

The largest ever leak of negotiating documents from the controversial Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) highlights the madness of secrecy and provides no comfort for users of public services.

Public services unions of the Americas are on the offensive against new international trade agreements

23 April 2015

Public services unions across the Americas are determined to oppose the new wave of trade agreements driven by corporate interests and negotiated in secret. On 23 April, in Mexico City, the first regional demonstration to oppose TPP, TTIP, CETA and TISA.

EU Parliaments must remain vigilant on international agreements

21 April 2015

Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary of Public Services International (PSI) addressed the Conference of Speakers of European Union's Parliaments, on 21 April in Rome, in a session about the role of Parliaments in trade agreements currently under discussion.

Global Day of Action on Trade and Investment Treaties

14 April 2015
Photo: Creative Commons - MehrDemokratie - Charlie Rutz

A coalition of civil society groups and unions around the world has organised a global day of action on 18 April to demonstrate against the negotiation of harmful trade agreements. PSI endorses this day of action and encourages affiliates to participate.

Banners: No trade in public services

17 April 2014

Join in the global movement to protest the Trade In Services Agreement (TISA) negotiations. Create your own banner - download the file in the language of your choice.

Public Services for the Public Good: PSI statement on the Trade In Services Agreement (TISA)

02 December 2013

Universal quality public services and decent work are goals of economic development, to which international trade is but a means. Trade treaty rules should not force privatisation, nor interfere with the restoration or expansion of public services, where experiments with private provision fail or are rejected by democratically-elected governments. Trade treaties must not close policy space or inhibit innovation in public service provision.

PSI brief on Trade in Services Agreement (TISA)

02 August 2013

This briefing note, written in July 2013, explains the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA).

PSI policy on International Trade Agreements

31 May 2013

PSI’s Executive Board (EB–145) endorsed in May 2013 a proposal to increase PSI’s work on trade agreements. This work will focus on the most prominent threats to our affiliates, including ensuring that trade agreements are not used to open public services to private commercial activities but are used to contribute to the application of international labour standards to protect workers’ rights.

Anti-TISA demonstration, Geneva, 28 April 2014

26 May 2014

On 28 April 2014, Public Services International, together with Swiss trade unions and civil society organisations, held a demonstration in front of the Australian mission in Geneva.

Photos: Anti-TISA demonstration in Geneva

06 May 2014
On 28 April 2014, Public Services International, together with Swiss trade unions and civil society organisations, held a demonstration in front of the Australian mission in Geneva. The Australian mission was the venue of the secret negotiations for the TISA (Trade in Services Agreement) which governments are pushing and which will make it easier for big multinational companies to take over vital public services, such as health care and education, which you and your family rely on. For more information see our website: www.world-psi.org/TISA. #StopTISA
Source: Flickr

On 28 April 2014, Public Services International, together with Swiss trade unions and civil society organisations, held a demonstration in front of the Australian mission in Geneva. The Australian mission was the venue of the secret negotiations for the TISA (Trade in Services Agreement) which governments are pushing and which will make it easier for big multinational companies to take over vital public services, such as health care and education, which you and your family rely on. For more information: see our web pages

Audio: RadioLabour report on global day of action TISA

06 May 2014

A report by C. Marie Ainsborough, Senior Labour Reporter with Radio Labour, reports on the preparations for the global day of action on 28th April in protest of the TISA negotiations. See our web page for more information.

Photos: PSI Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) Forum - Bali

06 December 2013
PSI Trade In Services Agreement (TISA) forum - 9th WTO Ministerial Meeting in Bali: 5 Dec 2013
Source: Flickr

PSI presented a special forum at the 9th WTO Ministerial in Bali. This forum aimed to shed light in dark corners: Why is a new services agreement required? Why must it be negotiated in secrecy outside the multilateral process? Why are so many developing countries refusing to participate? What benefit will it provide to the majority in the community?