Good piece by wise man Bob Samuelson in today’s WaPo by the above title, rightfully fretting about the new growing hostile climate toward free trade. Says Samuelson:
“Just last week Democratic congressional leaders signaled that they may oppose new trade agreements with Colombia and Peru. Who, if anyone, would benefit is unclear. As The Post reported, the agreements’ darkened prospects have already led to layoffs in Colombia. In the United States, manufacturers believe the agreements would expand their exports. Peru’s tariffs average about 10 percent, Colombia’s about 11 percent, says Frank Vargo of the National Association of Manufacturers. Most of these would go to zero under the agreements.”
We’ve made this point here repeatedly: Trade agreement lower barriers to entry of US-made goods. That’s good for US manufacturers. It’s a multilateral world out there. As Samuelson points out. If we don’t negotiate trade agreements with these countries, other countries will. “If we take ourselves out of the trade negotiation game,” says one trade expert, “U.S. exporters will be the losers.” Those “US exporters” are our members, American manufacturers large and small.
In conclusion, Samuelson says, “The next Congress must decide whether it embraces the symbolism or the reality of trade. If it chooses symbolism, it will perversely harm many of the workers it’s trying to help.”
Lou Dobbs, are you listening….?
December 29th, 2006 on 7:20 pm
I noticed many of the comments are coming from people who need to do more research into the trade agreements and the condition of our country
try searching globalization and what the effects are,FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAYS PROGRAM, making roads into toll roads and privatizing them(sale of taxpapers state assets,how Cintra Concessiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte, S.A. of Spain,) is buying up all the roads and bridges in this country,eminent domain violations, how illegal aliens are getting the benefits you are paying for and can’t get, how about the beheadings,drug wars,kidnapping of americans taken to mexico and killed, americans killed by illegals who have been deported and returned
Memorial
http://www.ojjpac.org/memorial.asp
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/NAFTA_FTAA/NAFTA_FTAA.html
If any of you think these treaties add jobs or benefits America, then check statistics of trade deficents..it’s in the trillions
By the way…in some polls(legitmate ones., Lou is more believed than the President) and many of you haven’t yet lost your job and/ or you have too much time on your hands. ALL THESE SUBJECTS ARE A RESULT OF TREATIES…Pretty soon your travel, your content and your freedom of speech on the internet be more scrutinized
WHEN THE LAW IS AGAINST YOU….ARGUE THE FACTS
WHEN THE FACTS ARE AGAINST YOU..ARGUE THE LAW…..WHEN BOTH ARE AGAINST YOU…ATTACK THE PEOPLE..