President Barack Obama has called on Congress to grant him fast-track trade authority for his Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement. The administration insists the authority, which would give Congress only an up-or-down vote on the agreement, is needed to get the best possible terms from its trade partners along the Pacific Rim. [Reposted from Reuters | …
The Interfaith Working Group on Trade and Investment – representing Quaker, Jewish, Protestant and Catholic organizations, – has written a letter in opposition to Fast Track Trade Promotion Authority. Here is their letter: February 17, 2015 Dear Representative/Senator: As religious bodies and faith-based organizations, we write today to ask you to oppose fast track trade…
House Ways & Means trade subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) last week indicated that efforts to build congressional support for a Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) or fast-track bill are facing challenges due to a more vocal opposition movement bolstered in part by social media and the notion among some Republicans that passing TPA amounts to…
WASHINGTON — A Democratic congressman has accused the Obama administration of dodging his request for “unimpeded” access to two controversial trade agreements — reigniting a dispute over transparency as the president presses legislators for so-called “fast-track” authority, which would block members of Congress from offering amendments to either deal. [Reposted from the Huffington Post | …
Editor’s Note: On Feb. 13, 2015 Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI) introduced H.R. 967, a bill which would prohibit the president from entering into free trade agreements or investment treaties that include investor-state dispute settlement provisions. [Reposted from Inside US Trade | February 17, 2015] The twelve Democrats co-sponsoring the bill included: James McGovern (D-MA), Jan…
WASHINGTON — A number of countries — China most prominent among them — have long acted to hold down the value of their currencies against the dollar, helping their industries by keeping exports to American consumers cheaper and making goods from the United States more expensive. [by Jonathan Weisman | February 15, 2015 |…
There is no such thing in the real world. Free Trade exists only in the minds of those who wish to use it’s ‘name’ to cover their special interests, not that of working Americas or Domestic Manufacturers…..Or they are just plain ignorant of the reality/brainwashed. Any appearance of ‘Free’ Trade is just that, an appearance.…
President Obama and his predecessors have frequently claimed that free trade agreements (FTAs) and other trade deals will lead to growing exports and domestic job creation. The president is currently negotiating two massive new FTAs that are likely to result in increased outsourcing and growing job losses, especially in the manufacturing sector. This paper reviews recent…
The number of House Democrats and Republicans who have publicly voiced outright opposition or strong skepticism toward the renewal of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) has grown to 162, including 142 of the total 188 voting members of the House Democratic caucus. [Reposted from Inside US Trade | February 12, 2015] Among them are 128 returning…
In an unexpected move, China this week announced to signatories of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) that it does not intend to improve the market access concessions it made in its latest accession offer presented in December 2014, but is willing to negotiate exclusions it has proposed. [Reposted from Inside US Trade | February 13,…