The report does, however, observe that Apple's suppliers are good at protecting its intellectual property, if not their workers' rights.To be fair, Apple was under no obligation to commission the report or make its findings public.
We discussed a lot more, from options for laid-off auto workers to intellectual property protection.
Though the exact language and details of the agreement are being kept secret by the Obama administration, summaries and descriptions indicate that it will affect tariffs, workers' wages, intellectual property, and environmental regulations in the US and 11 Asia-Pacific countries.
In addition to conversations about strengthening worker rights, intellectual property rights, and building up the high-tech economy in Hawaii, there were also conversations about the economic importance of a safety net for families.
Romney called Chinese businesses the world's "worst offenders" on trade violations and said, "We will crack down on cheaters like China and protect the intellectual property and the jobs of American workers, and American enterprises.
Just as multinational corporations seek enforceable protections for intellectual property and against copyright infringement, American workers seek an international system that safeguards basic human rights for their counterparts overseas.
In the Western World, China is accused of having manipulated its currency in order to poach jobs from low-skilled workers, while stealing intellectual property from higher-skilled ones.
To remain eligible for the trade benefits, countries must meet such criteria as protecting worker rights and intellectual property.
The Obama administration has warned that the RCEP would not include strong protections for workers, the environment or intellectual property.
Which is why the pending Partnership protects the intellectual property of American corporations -- but not American workers' health, safety, or wages, and not the environment.
