Congressional leaders launch trade reform act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 50 original cosponsors from the U.S. Congress joined 20 leading labor, environmental, family farm and faith groups, including The United Methodist Church’s General Board of Church & Society, to support new legislation offering a positive vision for future U.S. trade policy. Entitled the “Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act,” the bill was introduced June 4 by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine).

The act triggers a review of all existing trade agreements, and provides a process to renegotiate them. It also outlines principles of what should be included in future trade agreements, and expresses the sense of the Congress that its role in trade policymaking should be strengthened.

The act triggers a review of all existing trade agreements, and provides a process to renegotiate them.

The TRADE Act will help Congress and the White House craft a trade agreement that benefits workers, business owners, and our country, according to Brown. “We want trade, and we want more of it,” he emphasized. “The TRADE Act is a critical first step on a new path for trade.”

Specific benchmarks

Michaud said the act clearly articulates what the United States should stand for. “Its very specific benchmarks for current and future trade agreements provide a balanced way forward that grounds our trade policy on the impact these policies have on American’s everyday lives,” he said. “Instead of rhetoric, the TRADE Act calls for concrete results.”

The TRADE Act was introduced following a Presidential primary season that saw trade policy emerge as important among Americans’ concerns. The TRADE Act’s sponsors said the bill provides a blueprint for how to remedy many past trade problems.

“Current trade agreements have consistently failed to live up to their promised benefits, encouraging a race to see who can produce the cheapest food and fiber regardless of production standards,” said Tom Buis, National Farmers Union president. “The TRADE Act defines a plan for a fair trade policy that will allow American agriculture to compete on a level playing field.”

Current trade agreements have consistently failed to live up to their promised benefits.

Not one environmental, labor, family farm or religious group in the country supports current pacts like the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, according to Andrew Gussert, Citizens Trade Campaign (CTC) national director. “Progressive organizations want to see a responsible expansion of trade,” he said.

Gussert described this legislation as a balanced way to expand trade. It offers “us all a fair way forward,” he said. “It means future trade agreements can better serve a majority of people on issues such as jobs, the environment, human rights and public health.”

Devastating impacts

CTC contends that the current U.S. trade model has had devastating impacts:

The bill articulates specific changes needed to the failed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)/World Trade Organization (WTO) model to ensure trade deals achieve good jobs, safe food and the promotion of basic human rights, healthy communities and environmental protection, according to its sponsors.

The TRADE Act would make sure that the benefits of trade go to workers as well as the richest few.

Teamsters General President James Hoffa Teamsters added his organization’s support for the reform legislation. "The TRADE Act would make sure that the benefits of trade go to workers as well as the richest few,” he said. “It sets new rules for global trade that create good jobs and improve working conditions everywhere.”

Restores Congress’ constitutional right

Larry Cohen, president of the Communication Workers of America, also praised the initiative. "The TRADE Act restores Congress' constitutional right of oversight in trade policy,” he said. “The Bush Administration has trampled on that right. The landmark legislation will ensure that no matter who occupies the Oval Office, Congress will have a meaningful say in trade policy."

Bruce Raynor, president of UNITE HERE, said the bill breaks new ground on the enforcement of labor rights, environmental protection, food and product safety, procurement, safeguards against surges of imports, trade remedies against unfair trade practices and the ability for countries to regulate foreign investment.

Brent Blackwelder, president of Friends of the Earth, praised the legislation. “Trade agreements should support, rather than undermine, environmental protection,” he said. “The TRADE Act encourages responsible behavior, providing a blueprint for a far better and more balanced way to conduct international trade.”

The TRADE Act encourages responsible behavior.

Others of the more than 20 organizations supporting the TRADE Act include:

AFL-CIO, Change to Win, Friends of the Earth, Sierra Club, United Steelworkers, Americans for Democratic Action, Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, National Family Farm Coalition, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IATP Action, and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.

Economic Justice Action Network

John Hill, director of Economic and Environmental Justice at the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society, supervises an Economic Justice Action Network that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues involving living wage, worker rights, farm worker justice, budget and tax fairness, hunger and housing. He issues “Action Alerts” periodically through e-mail.

Joining the Economic Justice Action Network is free: go to umpower.org or click on My GBCS on the General Board of Church and Society Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641. John Hill can be reached at (202) 488-5654.