Trade, Jobs, and the Environment
Fast Track Authority
What’s Next for Trade Negotiating Authority?
U.S. trade policy impacts domestic and international labor, the environment, jobs and the cost of goods and services. In recent years, U.S. trade policy has been geared to expanding and integrating the global economy. Our nation has also played an active role in creating a trade regime that encourages the meaningful participation of developing countries in the new and highly competitive world economy. Obviously the U.S. must play a major role in managing the emerging global economy, and it has the responsibility to assist developing nations as they strive to become competitive players in the global market place. At the same time we must contend with the needs of our workers and threats to our environment here at home.
Many union and environmental leaders maintain that future trade agreements should contain strong labor and environmental standards to ensure that U.S. companies are not enticed to move overseas, particularly to developing countries, where labor and environmental regulations may not be as restrictive. Other business leaders are worried that enforceable standards built into future trade agreements could disrupt our trade and investment relationships. The Administration believes that it needs enhanced authority to negotiate trade agreements most effectively. Congress, however, if it wishes to play an ongoing role in this critical debate, must maintain and defend its responsibility to have a voice in the formulation and implementation of our nation’s trade legislation.
On August 6, 2002 President George W. Bush signed into law the Fast Track Trade Authority bill. Fast track authority is a powerful tool that gives the President sole authority to negotiate trade agreements. Congress is limited to voting either for or against the agreement without the opportunity to amend it. It very well may be necessary to grant the President greater authority in order to make progress on future international trade agreements. But if Congress is to permit the Executive Branch this extraordinary power, it must also provide for extraordinary safeguards to guarantee its ongoing role in the formulation of trade policy.
The safeguards built into the Fast Track bill fall far short of this standard. The bill could jeopardize domestic laws currently in place designed to protect American workers and the environment. These protections are potentially at the mercy of being traded away by negotiators. Putting common-sense protections at the mercy of unelected trade negotiators, without adequate safeguards in place, would amount to nothing less than dereliction of duty by Congress. If Congress is to hand over broad authorities to the President, then it must be absolutely sure that this power is not abused in a manner that potentially undermines laws that protect all Americans. Current fast track authority does not provide these guarantees.
I am committed to fighting for the workers of our country and to protecting the environment. This can be done if Congress upholds its constitutional responsibility to enact laws pertaining to trade. I will do all that is possible to ensure protections for workers and our environment while continuing to promote fairness and equity in international trade negotiations.
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