TRADE Act Would Revamp Failed Trade Policies

by James Parks, Jun 4, 2008

Workers across the world are opposed to trade deals that do not protect workers’ rights.

As the nation’s economy slides downhill, working people are demanding our political leaders overhaul the nation’s failed trade policies and put creating good jobs at the center of a coherent global economic strategy.

Today, several members of the Democratic majority in Congress joined with union leaders and trade activists to support a first-of-its-kind trade bill that would revamp U.S. trade policy. 

The Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act, introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine), would require a review of existing trade agreements, establish standards, protect workers in developing nations and help restore congressional oversight of future trade agreements.  

Communications Workers of America (CWA) President Larry Cohen told a Capitol Hill press conference today: 

The principles of the TRADE Act are critical to real fair trade. The U.S. needs reciprocal worker and environmental rights in all trade deals. That means enforceable standards in both the United States and our trading partners that promote global standards of collective bargaining for workers, workplace rights and green and sustainable production.

In a statement handed out at the press conference, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said the TRADE Act “calls for a strategic pause on trade agreements and a long overdue comprehensive review of U.S. trade policy.”

This bill also outlines a new U.S. trade strategy—one that puts a priority on the interests of working class Americans, farmers, the environment, and domestic manufacturers, not just multinational corporations.

It is past time to restructure U.S. trade policy to work for working families—here at home and around the world.

Our current [trade] system has not worked, has not met past promises, and has not served the interests of a majority of people across our country, or the world. This bill sets forth concrete ways to deliver on our shared conviction that trade must serve as a means for achieving goals such as economic justice and promotion of basic human rights, healthy communities and environmental well-being. 

Specifically, the TRADE Act would: 

• Require a comprehensive review of existing trade agreements with an emphasis on economic results, enforcement and compliance and an analysis of non-tariff provisions in trade agreements.
• Spell out standards for labor and environmental protections, food and product safety, national security exceptions and remedies that must be included in new trade pacts.
• Set requirements with respect to public services, farm policy, investment, government procurement and affordable medicines that have been incorporated  in trade agreements.
• Require the president to submit renegotiation plans for current trade pacts prior to negotiating new agreements and prior to congressional consideration of pending agreements.
• Create a committee comprised of the chairmen and chairwomen and ranking members of each committee whose jurisdiction is affected by trade agreements to review the president’s plan for renegotiations.
• Restore congressional oversight of trade agreements.

Brown summed up the need for the bill this way: 

Trade done right means new jobs and new industry at home and means lifting up workers in developing nations. For too long, our nation’s trade policy has exploited workers, betrayed middle class families and destroyed communities. It is time for a trade policy that works for everyone, not just a few. 

Other speakers at the press conference included Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Teamsters President James Hoffa.    

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