General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHere's a recent speech by Michael Froman addressing the TPP.
FEBRUARY 18, 2014
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That was certainly the case in NAFTA. But it is not the case anymore.
As a candidate for President, then-Senator Obama said he would renegotiate NAFTA, put labor and environmental standards at the core of trade agreements and make those standards enforceable like any commercial commitment.
Thats exactly what were doing in TPP, upgrading our trade relationships, not only with Mexico and Canada, but with nine other countries as well.
As in the case of the three trade agreements signed into law by President Obama, in TPP we are seeking to include disciplines requiring adherence to fundamental labor rights, including the right to organize and collectively bargain, and protections from child and forced labor and employment discrimination.
We are pressing for regular consultative mechanisms, and a means for the public to raise labor concerns and demand action.
And we are working to include new commitments to address trade in goods produced by forced labor and regarding acceptable conditions of work.
We are working with Vietnam and the other TPP parties to make sure they live up to the high-standard, enforceable commitments of a final agreement.
Countries such as Vietnam face serious challenges in this regard, and we see TPP as the mechanism most likely to incentivize these countries to make progress in reforming their labor system and upholding worker rights.
We expect that T-TIP will lay the foundation for cooperation with Europe in promoting high-standard labor practices around the world.
But the negotiation of disciplines is only the first step.
We need to remain vigilant as to the implementation of commitments.
Under this President, a joint submission from U.S. and Guatemalan labor unions prompted the first trade-related labor rights enforcement case in history.
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http://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Center-for-American-Progress-Remarks-Ambassador-Froman-2-18-14.pdf
FYI
upaloopa
(11,417 posts)If it is a good thing show it to us. Put it on line for all to review. Have a question and answer period like two years or so.
cali
(114,904 posts)He spent his career at Citigroup.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citigroup#Criticism
pampango
(24,692 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)He's just saying to sound good. We all know Obama has no intention of doing anything mentioned.
pampango
(24,692 posts)We do not 'all' know that. I have read for years that much of what was "mentioned" was part of Obama's plan going back to 2009. IMHO, the idea was to renegotiate and expand NAFTA to include labor rights and the environment with more countries.
My problem with it is that the parts of the draft that have been leaked are at odds with his plan from back then. From what I have seen the draft document does not accomplish this. (Admittedly, it is still a draft, we have not seen the whole thing and Obama has not signed off on it, so perhaps he is working on improving it.) That may be Obama's fault or that of the other countries in the negotiation or both, but it is a disappointment. A high-standards agreement (like Europe has) would have been a liberal achievement and a great thing.
I do not think he has been playing 10-D chess with trade for 5+ years and that his 5-year goal has been to screw us.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)That's exactly the kind of response anticipated. See, there really is no other rebuttal to the OP except to claim it's too good to be true.
Who knows, it could be lies, but you have to admit it sounds good. Also, the part about the "first trade-related labor rights" case is true. There were other cases like that.
The World Trade Organizations (WTOs) Appellate Body yesterday upheld President Obamas decision based on U.S. trade law to provide relief for American tire industry workers against surging imports from China of passenger and light truck tires.
In September 2009, Obama became the first president to enforce U.S. trade law when he imposed tariffs to protect domestic workers against a surge in tire imports from China. The original complaint came from the United Steelworkers (USW), and Obamas decision led to a rebound in the tire industry.
http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/09/06/wto-upholds-obamas-tire-industry-relief-decision/
by TomP
Good timing for the speech today in Ohio.
GENEVA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington won a major victory in an election-year dispute against China on Monday when a WTO ruling found China had discriminated against U.S. bank card suppliers in favor of a state-owned enterprise that enjoys an illegal monopoly.
The decision by a World Trade Organization dispute panel said Beijing was breaking WTO rules by requiring all yuan-denominated payment cards issued in China to work with the network belonging to China UnionPay (CUP), as well as requiring every merchant and ATM to accept CUP's cards.
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White House spokesman Jay Carney called the ruling a "win" that showed "our determination to go after China's efforts to distort global trade rules".
"That is precisely why 3.5 years into the president's first term we have doubled the rate of WTO cases against China, versus the prior administration," he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/16/1110564/-Obama-Admin-Wins-Trade-Complaint-Against-China-At-WTO
Ohio steelmakers, senators applaud crackdown on China
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024503984
PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)Let it be debated. Let the words in the agreement see the light of day. Let everyone know what is that they are trying to do.
That is all I ask.
NO FAST TRACK!!!
ProSense
(116,464 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)fuck him and the corporate trojan horse he's riding.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Still, this is the only rebuttal you can offer: It's a lie from Mr. "corporate dog shit."