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ProSense

(116,464 posts)
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 04:11 PM Feb 2014

Here's a recent speech by Michael Froman addressing the TPP.

A VALUES-DRIVEN TRADE POLICY U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL FROMAN

FEBRUARY 18, 2014

<...>

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.

That’s exactly what we’re 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.

- more -

http://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Center-for-American-Progress-Remarks-Ambassador-Froman-2-18-14.pdf

FYI

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Here's a recent speech by Michael Froman addressing the TPP. (Original Post) ProSense Feb 2014 OP
Why the secrecy and need to fast track? upaloopa Feb 2014 #1
duplicitous crap from as corporate official as could be imagined. cali Feb 2014 #2
Would be good if it were true. n/t pampango Feb 2014 #3
It can't possibly be true. ProSense Feb 2014 #6
"We all know Obama has no intention of doing anything mentioned." pampango Feb 2014 #12
Let's air it out in public, all of it. nt bemildred Feb 2014 #4
Kick! n/t ProSense Feb 2014 #5
"But it is not the case anymore." PowerToThePeople Feb 2014 #7
Thanks ProSense Feb 2014 #8
No fast track PowerToThePeople Feb 2014 #9
Agree. n/t ProSense Feb 2014 #10
Froman is a lying piece of corporate dog shit. cali Feb 2014 #11
That's a downgrade from "duplicitous crap from as corporate official" ProSense Feb 2014 #13
Abe Froman? Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2014 #14

upaloopa

(11,417 posts)
1. Why the secrecy and need to fast track?
Wed Feb 19, 2014, 04:15 PM
Feb 2014

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.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
6. It can't possibly be true.
Thu Feb 20, 2014, 10:34 AM
Feb 2014

He's just saying to sound good. We all know Obama has no intention of doing anything mentioned.



pampango

(24,692 posts)
12. "We all know Obama has no intention of doing anything mentioned."
Thu Feb 20, 2014, 10:59 AM
Feb 2014

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.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
8. Thanks
Thu Feb 20, 2014, 10:50 AM
Feb 2014

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.

WTO Upholds Obama’s Tire Industry Relief Decision

The World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) Appellate Body yesterday upheld President Obama’s 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 Obama’s decision led to a rebound in the tire industry.

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/09/06/wto-upholds-obamas-tire-industry-relief-decision/


Obama Admin Wins Trade Complaint Against China At WTO

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.

<...>

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.

- more -

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)
9. No fast track
Thu Feb 20, 2014, 10:53 AM
Feb 2014

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!!!

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
11. Froman is a lying piece of corporate dog shit.
Thu Feb 20, 2014, 10:55 AM
Feb 2014

fuck him and the corporate trojan horse he's riding.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
13. That's a downgrade from "duplicitous crap from as corporate official"
Thu Feb 20, 2014, 11:03 AM
Feb 2014

Still, this is the only rebuttal you can offer: It's a lie from Mr. "corporate dog shit."



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