In his Sept. 9 letter, U.S. Rep. Philip Crane exhorts us to pass fast track and move forward with trade liberalization. To touch upon a few of his assertions:
Rep. Crane claims that the United States’ ability to negotiate trade agreements has been stymied since fast-track authority expired. Since fast track expired in 1994, “our trading partners have negotiated more than 100 trade agreements,” he said. But he fails to note that during that same time, the administration has negotiated more than 200 trade agreements. To imply that the U.S. will somehow get left behind is just plain wrong.
Mr. Crane also appears to feel that labor and environmental issues have no place in trade agreements. Trade agreements should not only protect profits and property but people as well.
I also respectfully disagree with Rep. Crane when he states that fast-track “authority is essential to winning new trade agreements that benefit U.S. workers, businesses and consumers.” Well, let’s take a look at the effects of NAFTA, which was negotiated under fast track and did not contain enforceable labor and environmental standards in the core agreement. This broken trade agreement has resulted in lost jobs, lower wages, weaker consumer protections and a dirtier environment. NAFTA clearly shows what happens when labor and environmental standards are not incorporated in the core agreement– working families lose.
If environmental and labor provisions are not included in fast-track legislation, then future trade agreements will fail just as NAFTA has. We cannot provide 21st Century protections for business interests while giving 19th Century protections for labor and the environment. If we do, then it’s just going to be a fast track to nowhere.
