Dundee City Council has become the sixth in Scotland to pass a motion declaring outright opposition to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
The deal is currently being negotiated between the EU and USA with the intention of removing trade barriers between the two markets.
While some believe it will boost business and economies, others see it as an undemocratic assault upon society by big business.
Dundee City Council has agreed to write to the UK Government and COSLA to signal its “opposition” to the deal.
Councillors voted by 25-2 in favour of the move, following a motion by SNP Councillor Jimmy Black and a passionate plea from Paul Robson, chair of STOP TTIP Dundee.
They believe TTIP could have a detrimental impact upon “local services, employment, suppliers and decision-making” and damage the EU’s food, environmental and labour standards, which are “better” than those in the US.
Councillor Black said: “I believe in local services delivered by local councils for local people; councils should work in partnership with local businesses and social enterprises.
“TTIP could put that at risk as disputes with major transnational companies would be very expensive to resolve.
“Trade agreements are a very good thing, but as things stand TTIP could lead to privatisation of public services at local and national level.
“Profit, not service, could become the driving factor.”
Opposition to Mr Black’s motion came from Liberal Democrat Councillor Fraser MacPherson, who said it was too early to oppose TTIP when the details of the deal are still unknown.
Conservative Councillor Derek Scott went further as he unsuccessfully urged the council to remain silent.
He said: “This council should take no action at this time. TTIP is still being negotiated and has yet to be ratified. No decisions have been made.”
Mr Scott continued: “I do not share concerns over its impact upon the UK.
“TTIP will remove trade barriers between the US and EU and will help boost the Scottish and UK economies by millions of pounds.”
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Dunbartonshire and Fife have all passed motions expressing their concerns about TTIP, while more than a thousand across the EU and US have done the same.
Speaking after Dundee City Council’s decision to join that list, Pauline Hinchion, member of local campaign group STOP TTIP Dundee said: “STOP TTIP Dundee are delighted that Dundee is now a TTIP-free zone.
“Following a concerted campaign from a range of local people, and local groups, the SNP council had no option but to act.
“It would be nice if the Scottish and Westminster governments also listened to their citizens and declared themselves TTIP-free.
“We hope we can provide an example to many other cities across Scotland and the wider world.
“We aren’t going to stop now though, and intend to keep pressure up on the European parliament and not rest until this dreadful legislation is dead in the water forever.”