 Washington Fair Trade Coalition Working on behalf of people and the planet for a fair global trading system |
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Resources >> WFTC Press Release on House Peru FTA Vote | ||||
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Nov 8, 2007 WFTC Press Release: Washington Democrats Disappoint on US-Peru Trade Agreement Washington State’s Democratic contingent in the U.S. House unanimously supported another in a long string of flawed NAFTA-style trade deals this morning, as the House passed the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by a 285-132 vote. While the agreement was highly contentious, every Democrat from the state of Washington voted in favor of it. With political party pressures appearing to trump the need to create fair and effective trade policy, this result is a huge disappointment to many Washington residents. Washington’s Democrats' support for the US-Peru FTA came in the face of strong opposition to the agreement from labor, environmental and social justice communities throughout the state. These organizations reacted quickly to this morning’s news that their Congressional Representatives had retreated from their previous stand for fair trade, as exemplified by the 2005 CAFTA vote. "We are extremely disappointed in the Democratic Representatives in Washington State," says Stephanie Celt, State Coordinator of the Washington Fair Trade Coalition, which represents 29 member organizations that did not support the agreement. "Our Democratic Representatives have shown us that they are not concerned about creating a fair trade agenda for this country. Instead, they rushed into a flawed agreement that many of their constituents opposed, because of pressure from Democratic leadership and multinational corporations, citing the vague promises that all problems in US trade policy have been fixed. They haven't." "They think a 'yes' vote on this agreement with give them added leverage after the 2008 elections. Instead, it will cost them - it has greatly reduced many people's faith that these leaders will represent the best interests of Washington residents, and the best interests of the countries we trade with." Surprisingly, the only Washington Representatives to vote against the FTA were Republicans. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Doc Hastings, two of the state's three Republican Representatives, both opposed the FTA. These Representatives' votes were influenced by the growing unrest of farmers and ranchers in their rural districts regarding "free trade" deals. (Indeed, a recent WSJ/NBC poll found that 60% of registered Republicans believe "free trade" is bad for the country.) Environmental groups are critical of Washington Democrats as well. "It is obvious that we cannot build a sustainable and prosperous trading system if we ignore critical global issues such as global warming and toxic chemicals. But the Peru FTA does just that," says Marina Skumanich, president of Seattle Audubon. "It is deeply disappointing that our environmental champions from Washington State such as Jay Inslee and Jim McDermott - rather than standing firm for the environment - chose instead to rubber stamp yet another NAFTA expansion deal." Organized labor was also unconvinced by this FTA, as no major union endorsed the deal. The inclusion of revamped language regarding the protection of labor rights was not enough to gain the support of unions in either the US or Peru. The experience of other developing countries entering into trade deals with the U.S. is also cause for alarm. “For our Representatives to tout proposals aimed at curbing global poverty and then continue to support a poverty-inducing trade agenda is hypocritical at best,” said Cameron Herrington, Director of Seattle CISPES – Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador. "The experience of Mexico as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and now the Central American countries under CAFTA, clearly demonstrates that FTAs between the U.S. and poor countries lead to increased poverty, unemployment and forced migration.” The Senate is expected to vote on the US-Peru FTA soon. It is yet to be seen whether Washington State Senators will also support this flawed and potentially harmful trade agreement. |
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