Progressive Dems Break with Trade Consensus; Demand a Change of Course

By AlterNet Staff, AlterNet. Posted June 10, 2008.

Michaud, Brown Call for Review of Trade Agreements
Associated Press

Rep. Michael Michaud of Maine and Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, both Democrats, introduced legislation Wednesday to put the brakes on trade agreements by triggering a review of existing agreements as well as providing a process for renegotiating them. more stories like this

The "Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment TRADE Act" aims to fix "our broken trade policies and it sets a new course on trade that will benefit businesses and workers in the United States," Michaud said in statement.

The bill sets forth a list of agreements to be reviewed and requires the General Accountability Office to complete the review by June 2010. It also sets forth labor, environment, food and product safety standards, along with national security exceptions and trade remedies.

A Trade Bill Even Teamsters Can Support
James Hoffa, Jr.
Huffington Post

Congress is looking at a new trade proposal: the TRADE Act.

Even the Teamsters like it - and that's saying a mouthful, because we've been fierce critics of every trade proposal since NAFTA.

Deals like NAFTA, CAFTA and China PNTR aren't really "free trade agreements." They're deals to lure corporations away from America by promising access to cheap labor.

The TRADE Act would rewrite the rules on global trade. It would prevent agreements with countries that offer up their workers and their environment in exchange for investment deals that benefit a few of their richest citizens.

The TRADE Act also calls for a review of existing agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA -- which, as the Teamsters say, give workers the SHAFTA.

Give credit to the TRADE Act's Democratic sponsors: Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Rep. Mike Michaud of Maine.

They know the TRADE Act won't pass this year -- despite its 52 House cosponsors. There just isn't time this late in the session.

But Brown and Michaud also know the debate about trade needs to be changed before trade rules can be changed.

For the past 15 years, anyone who opposed a so-called "free trade agreement" was labeled a protectionist. And that was the end of the story.

Now, the TRADE Act allows us to present an alternative to trade rules that destroy good jobs, harm the environment and lower safety standards.

It allows us to make our case that trade can spread benefits to workers as well as to Wall Street.

We know change is coming. The American people are demanding it. In less than five months, we'll have a new president. And we'll have a new course on trade.

The TRADE Act sets that course -- for trade that creates good jobs and raises living standards for workers here and overseas.

Who's Saying What About the TRADE Act
Brandon Wu
Eyes on Trade

Change to Win:

"This legislation will finally bring an end to the disastrous trade deals that have sent millions of jobs overseas and lowered safety standards. It will set new rules for global trade that create good American jobs, improve working conditions everywhere, and make sure that the benefits of trade are shared with workers, not just corporate CEOs.

"The TRADE Act lays the foundation for creating fair trade agreements that will help working families achieve the American Dream in the 21st century economy."

National Farmers Union:

"Current trade agreements have consistently failed to live up to their promised benefits, encouraging a race to see who can produce the cheapest food and fiber regardless of production standards," NFU President Tom Buis said. "The TRADE Act defines a plan for a fair trade policy that will allow American agriculture to compete on a level playing field."

Friends of the Earth:

Friends of the Earth supports well-crafted trade policies that protect the environment and workers, enhance public health and safety, foster strong democratic institutions and improve the quality of life worldwide. Unfortunately, our world's precious natural resources face serious threats from the current free trade model. Past trade pacts, based upon the failed NAFTA/CAFTA model have not worked, and actually encourage industry to relocate in pursuit of the least stringent environmental and social standards. Trade agreements should support, rather than undermine, environmental protection. The TRADE Act encourages responsible behavior, providing a blueprint for a far better and more balanced way to conduct international trade.

Machinists:

The IAM believes that an entirely new model of trade and the global economy is critical if we are to regain our economic strength in the World. The first step is to throw out the old, failed model. The second step is to begin to craft a new model that is based on fairness and that will result in helping, not devastating, workers here at home...

The TRADE Act represents a fresh new start to replacing the failed trade model that continues to destroy jobs, lives and communities.

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