Issues
Working Wisconsinites Trade
One of my top priorities in the
U.S. Senate is protecting American jobs. Wisconsin and the
entire country have been hit hard by the loss of manufacturing
jobs. A great deal of this manufacturing job loss stems from
recent trade policies that have led to significant relocation
of jobs out of the country. I am working hard to keep jobs
here in the U.S. by improving our country's trade policy.
Opposing Unfair Trade
Agreements
I opposed the North American Free Trade
Agreement, known as NAFTA, the General Agreement on Tariffs
and Trade, known as GATT, and Most Favored Nation Status for
China, which is now referred to as Permanent Normal Trade
Relations. I voted against these agreements in part because
I was concerned that the lack of adequate trade standards
in the agreements would result in many American jobs, particularly
manufacturing jobs, being shipped overseas.
But I did not imagine that the rate
at which jobs have moved abroad would have gotten so bad in
so short a time. There are, no doubt, a number of reasons
for this sudden loss of manufacturing jobs, but at the absolute
center has been our appalling trade policy. The trade agreements
into which we have entered have failed to protect our businesses
and workers against unfair competition from overseas competitors.
Ensuring Minimum Trade
Standards
The trade policy of this country has turned
a blind eye to the impact of these trade agreements for too
long. The race to the bottom which has been spurred by our
trade policy is a race where even the winner loses. Our trade
policy should be encouraging increased standards of living
here and around the world.
That is why, in the 108th Congress, I introduced
S.
Con. Res 69, a companion to a resolution introduced in
the House of Representatives by Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
which establishes some minimum standards for the trade resolutions
into which our country enters. This resolution would ensure
that trade agreements contain enforceable worker and environmental
protections, that foreign investors are not granted greater
rights than U.S. investors, that these agreements do not undermine
our domestic food safety standards, and that the ability of
federal, state, and local governments to regulate private
sector services in the public interest is preserved. We need
to pursue trade policies that are sustainable, not just for
American firms and American workers, but also for our trading
partners.
Opposing Fast-Track Trade
Authority
I continue to oppose so-called fast track
trade authority, which prohibits Congress from offering amendments
when it considers bills implementing new trade agreements,
and which limits the time for debate. Unfortunately, fast
track trade authority passed the Senate in May of 2002. In
July 2002, Congress agreed to the Andean Trade Preference
Act, which included provisions granting the President this
fast track authority. I voted against this bill, but it was
signed into law by President Bush on August 6, 2002.
Fast track is not only unnecessary, it
actually helps produce bad trade agreements. Fast track encourages
the kind of "winners and losers" trade agreements
under which some industries do well, while others are effectively
written off, including many in Wisconsin. The legacy of fast
track can be seen across our state. Communities all over Wisconsin
have seen thousands of jobs lost as a result of NAFTA and
GATT, two trade agreements implemented under fast-track procedures.
There is no better insurance policy for a fair trade agreement
than the prospect of full public input, and a thorough congressional
review complete with the ability to amend the agreement.
Buy
American Act
Improving Trade
Agreements
Keeping Companies
in the U.S.
Protecting
American Workers
Supporting
Wisconsin Jobs Main
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