Robert Scott: Fast Track to Lost Jobs and Lower Wages

This week, Senator Hatch will reportedly introduce “fast track” (trade promotion authority) legislation in the Senate, to help President Obama complete the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade and investment deal with eleven other countries in Asia and the Americas. [Reposted from the Huffington Post  |  Robert Scott  |  April 12, 2015] . “Fast Track”…

MarketWatch: “Harshest language in U.S. currency report is reserved for South Korea “

  Although China is often characterized by observers as the chief villain in currency manipulation, the latest U.S. government report reserves its sharpest criticism for South Korea. While the U.S. refrained on Wednesday from labeling any major trading partner a currency manipulator, the Treasury Department said it “has intensified its engagement with [South] Korea on…

The Diplomat: China’s ‘New’ Carrier Killer Subs

  The Chinese Navy in in the process of commissioning three new nuclear-powered attack submarines, according to China Daily. The report, quoted on the website Defense Tech, furthermore notes that the new vessels will be equipped with a new vertical launching system capable of firing supersonic anti-ship missiles. [by Franz-Stefan Gady | April 6, 2015 | The…

Eyes on Trade: Fact-Checking the Fact-Checker: Washington Post Gets It Wrong on Bogus Trade-Pact Jobs Claims

As the Obama administration seeks to Fast Track the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) through Congress over public and congressional opposition, it has resorted to a familiar tactic – promising job gains from the deal on the basis of unfounded assumptions. [Reposted from the Public Citizen blog  |  April 7, 2015] We have repeatedly warned against dubious TPP jobs claims by spotlighting the…

Made in USA Foundation: Chinese Drywall

Many homeowners in the United States have been suffering for years from contaminated Chinese home improvement products.  [Reposted from the Made In USA Foundation Newsletter  |  March 2015] Defective drywall was manufactured in China and imported to the United States starting in 2001. Laboratory tests of samples for volatile chemicals identified emissions of the sulfurous…