2009 - A year of new opportunities for fair trade

A new year inevitably brings with it new opportunities and challenges. While the establishment of fair trade policy in this country is certainly still likely to be a big challenge, we believe that 2009 presents many important opportunities on which we must capitalize.

The recent elections brought us a President who made many fair trade campaign promises, as well as over 40 new members of Congress who ran on a fair trade platform. Additionally, the election of these new officials shows the strength of public support for fair trade that is spreading throughout the country. We all know now that others share our frustrations, and our hopes for more just and sustainable trade policies!

We have also just recently been given a new challenge and opportunity. Representative Dave Reichert was given a seat on the House Ways and Means committee. He will join Rep. Jim McDermott on the most important committee for negotiation of trade policy (the Finance committee is its counterpart in the Senate). Rep. Reichert is a strong proponent of the current NAFTA model and advocates for the passage of the appalling Colombia FTA, which is troubling. However, we will now have increased reason to lobby him about our issues - and we will take advantage of this!

We look forward to working with you all this year. The challenges and opportunities 2009 brings are remarkable, and we appreciate all the support and effort we know you will contribute this year. Happy new year to all members and supporters of the Washington Fair Trade Coalition!
 

Ron Kirk nominated for United States Trade Representative

Former Dallas Mayor, Ron Kirk has been named by President-elect Barack Obama as the U.S. trade representative. Although President-elect Obama seemed to be in favor of renegotiating NAFTA during his has been largely a free trade cheerleader, and seems unlikely thus far to be critical of the NAFTA model.  Kirk has spoken out in favor of NAFTA and in 2000, was among a group who called for permanently normalizing trade relations with China.

It is worth noting that the job was first supposed to be offered to Xavier Becerra, a Congress member from California. Becerra turned down the post, saying that trade "would not be priority number one, and perhaps, not even priority number two or three" for Mr. Obama. While this indicates we probably won't see the rabid free trade advocacy of the Bush administration, it also reinforces the fact that we'll still have to push hard for the fair trade reforms Obama has talked about.

NAFTA's unhappy anniversary

January 1^st 2009 marked the 15^th anniversary of NAFTA. The trade agreement was established in the hopes of increasing trade, jobs and reducing migration into the US from Mexico. Fifteen years later we can take a look back at how NAFTA's policies have produced overall damaging results for all three countries.

Some areas that have been impacted by NAFTA include a rise in the U.S. trade deficit from $24 billion in 1993 to $190 billion in 2007. Nearly three million U.S. manufacturing jobs were lost as they were outsourced. At least one and a half million Mexican farmers have been displaced and have been forced to look for new opportunities in manufacturing jobs in (often sweatshop-standard) factories, or abroad. Immigration into the U.S. also rose by 60 percent as Mexicans risked their lives crossing the border for better jobs not available but promised to them.

The expansion of trade and production of cheaper goods for Americans have come at a great cost. Now fifteen years later we must truly recognize the effects that NAFTA has created and - more importantly - ensure that our elected officials recognize these impacts and attempt to improve outcomes. Newly elected officials, including President Obama, will need to be held to their fair trade campaign promises, including revising NAFTA so that it brings more of the benefits that were promised by its proponents.

Gallup recently released information that a majority of Americans think NAFTA has a mainly negative effect on the economy. Check out the entire Gallup Poll on NAFTA.

Bush honors Uribe, ignores human rights record

On January 13^th, President Bush presented the Colombian President Alvaro Uribe with the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The award was also given to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Bush stated that these men deserve the award because all "have shown a firm adherence to the principles of freedom and democratic values."

The choice of Uribe for this award has caused a significant stir amongst those who have a more critical view of his record. Indeed, many thin this award is completely farcical given that nearly 500 trade unionists have been murdered since Bush took office in 2002. Government corruption and impunity, and a very anti-union military, are among the examples that many feel demonstrate a lack of respect for freedom and democratic values. Uribe's history as an ally of the U.S. in combating terrorism, and his support for the pending US Colombia FTA, seem to be major factors in his receipt of this award.

 

For further reading

"South Korean Lawmakers Delay Free-Trade Approval" - It looks like this FTA is not going anywhere any time soon.

"New Messenger, Same Mandate" - A discussion by Kevin Gallagher of how Obama and Ron Kirk should revise US trade policy.

"Bush Chooses Uribe, Blair, Howard for Medal of Freedom" - Huffington Post.

"NAFTA's Unhappy Anniversary"

"The WTO and Other Tales" - An insightful piece by the Americas Policy Program on the ongoing saga that is international trade policy.