We in agriculture talk about free trade agreements as if they are the international equivalent of a free lunch. All we need is a trade deal, we preach, and a full belly — easy profit — is an almost certainty. [Alan Guebert| February, 06 2016 | Journal Star] This lovely belief, of course, overlooks…
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during a televised debate on Thursday (Feb. 4) hinted that, if elected, she would seek changes to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). She did so by reiterating that she does not support the deal in its current form and noting that, as secretary of state under President Obama, she helped renegotiate…
The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) this week publicly announced its support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), but the group is seeking clarifications from the administration on several aspects of the associated U.S.-Vietnam labor consistency plan before the agreement comes to a vote in Congress. [Daily News| February, 07 2016 | Inside US…
Smashes previous record mark set in 2014. [Kevin L. Kearns| February, 05 2016 | Trading Away Jobs] U.S. Commerce Department data released today show the U.S. trade deficit with China soared to $365.7 billion in 2015, a massive jump up from the previous year’s record of $343 billion. Said U.S. Business and Industry Council (USBIC)…
EPI summary fact: The sharp decline in the petroleum trade deficit masked a large increase in the non-oil goods trade deficit, which could result in substantial U.S. job losses in the future. Rob Scott | Economic Policy Institute | February 5, 2016 The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the annual U.S. trade deficit in goods…
WASHINGTON — Sen. Rob Portman announced Thursday he will oppose a sweeping trade agreement negotiated by the Obama administration and 11 other countries, mostly in the Asia-Pacific region. [Deirdre Sheesgreen| February, 04 2016 | Cincinnat!] It’s a surprise move from the Ohio Republican, who served as the chief trade negotiator for President George W. Bush and…
A quick report from Ernest Preeg of MAPI: U.S. exports of manufactures in 2015 were down $40 billion, or 3%, imports were up $49 billion, or 3%, and the trade deficit surged $89 billion, or 16%. This equates to a trade-related loss of 620,000 American manufacturing jobs, up from a 400,000 job loss in…
Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has been at the forefront of the fight against the president’s trade agenda, at the debate blasted not just TPP but all trade agreements “over the last 30 years.” “I believe in trade, but I do not believe in unfettered free trade,” he said. “I believe in fair trade which works for…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 05, 2016 Contact: Paola Masman, Media Director 202-688-5145, [email protected] Washington ~ The federal government announced today that the US trade deficit worsened yet against last December. Modern trade deals continue to cause failures in US trade performance and loss of dynamic, diverse manufacturing and agricultural supply chains. Here are the relevant points from…
Economic theory holds that removing trade barriers among nations should increase global wealth. But the proposed 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership that Congress must soon give a straight up-or-down vote threatens our liberties as Americans and is likely to add almost nothing to U.S. economic growth. [David Cay Johnston| February, 04 2016 | Aljazeera America] I have…