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Health & Fitness

Trade Agreements and You!

Trade agreements, if done correctly, are good for both our economy and our international trade partners. By streamlining the process through which tariffs and restrictions are established by partners, these agreements provide an essential avenue in promoting trade and economic cooperation with other countries that the United States rely on for goods and service. Operating at their best, these treaties present a chance for economic growth that would otherwise be inhibited by the lack of a multi-lateral trade agreement. (Friedman, http://www.hoover.org/publications/hoover-digest/article/7125)

Since 2010, the United States and other 11 Pacific Rim nations have been negotiating the details of a new, multi-lateral free trade agreement under the moniker of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement and Trans-Pacific Partnership. Thanks to provisions within the Trade Act of 1974, the President has the power to “fast-track” trade agreements such as the TPSEPA and TPP by negotiating agreements that cannot be filibustered or amended by Congress. It gets a simple up or down vote and this negotiation expedites the process. This is good for maintaining relationships with trade partners and minimizing the kind of political sausage-making that tends to derail honest efforts.

Some Congressional Republicans and Democrats are opposed to fast tracking these agreements and an effort to prevent them, have declined to reauthorize Presidential authority on these agreements. While there are legitimate concerns regarding the transparency of the process, the Congressional blocking has been almost completely political. More often than not, these officials chime in with the line “I’m not opposed to trade, but…” If you’re opposed to fast-tracking trade negotiations, you’re opposed to international trade agreements. It’s kind of like being for cars, but not for roads. Not terribly helpful. Allowing amendments and changes kills these agreements. It erodes trust in the international trade community when we promise one thing at the table and then unilaterally change the deal in Washington. Not having the ability to fast-track essentially kills any hope of forming bilateral trade agreements in the international community. America cannot afford to be globally disengaged in any aspect, especially trade. There are always those who will use any detractor or red herring to sink an agreement. A bad trade agreement shouldn’t be signed. If it doesn’t include provisions like wage-protections, intellectual property rights, and environmentally sound controls, by all means oppose it. But clinging to the guise of opposing fast-track as a way to oppose international trade agreements is dishonest. These people will never be in favor of trade agreements and you just have to work around them. Just like those who say they favor civil rights or school choice, then go out of their way to find ways to oppose them, pretending to favor international trade agreements while doing everything in your power to oppose them is just stonewalling.

Congress needs to work with Sen. Baucus and Rep. Camp to reauthorize the President’s ability to negotiate and conclude these agreements. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have to demand fairness, have hearings and votes against a bad deal. Being for fast track is not being for rubber stamping. Being for fast track is for keeping the opportunity that good trade agreements present. Hopefully they can get their voices heard focusing on the hearing and approval process and will work to beat singular bad trade agreements rather than scuttle the entire concept of free and fair international trade. Failing to do so will hurt our reputation with trading partners and the ability of our government to establish safe and effective international trade agreements.

Reprinted from 5th District State Sen. Curt Thompson's (D-Tuckerblog. Thompson represents parts of unincorporated Duluth, Norcross, Tucker, and Lawrenceville. Also, check the Senator out on Facebook and Twitter.

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