|
|
 |
|
The
views expressed
on this page are soley those of the author and do not
necessarily
represent the views of County News Online
|
 |
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
How Trade
Changes Today
Today, President Barack Obama will sign into law two pieces of
legislation that will change international trade and US jobs forever.
First will be a renewal of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), allowing
the President to expedite large trade deals such as the Trans-Pacific
Partnership (TPP) and bring them to Congress for a simple yes-or-no
vote.
Second is an extension of tariff preferences for developing countries.
It includes renewal of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program
and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) Leveling the Playing Field Act,
which will help American manufacturers fight back against foreign
suppliers who break international trade rules.
During the past several months, Sen. Brown led the fight against TPA
legislation, urging his Senate colleagues to put American workers and
manufacturers first in any trade agreement. Supporters of TPA have been
making all the same promises we heard in the past.
While trade is essential for American manufacturers and jobs, past
American trade policies have amounted to bad trade deals that put
corporate interests ahead of working families. The North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) supporters claimed it would create 200,000 jobs
in just two years, but it actually cost the U.S. more than 680,000 net
jobs. The last thing America needs is another NAFTA.
Trade policy should support American workers. Sen. Brown was pleased
that Congress renewed TAA, which is a critical lifeline for workers who
lose their job because of these bad trade deals. Sen. Brown was also
proud to see his legislation, the Leveling the Playing Field Act, make
it to the President’s desk. This bill will be crucial in fighting back
against foreign companies who receive illegal subsidies from their
government or dump their products in the American market at below
market-price.
Sen. Brown doesn’t believe, however, that Congress should rubber stamp
another trade deal that sends U.S. jobs overseas. That’s why Sen. Brown
voted against TPA, and why last week he took to the Senate floor to
urge his colleagues to put working families first in any trade
legislation. Now that Congress is limited to a simple yes-or-no vote on
trade agreements, Sen. Brown will continue to monitor TPP negotiations
and push the Administration to protect the livelihoods of American
workers.
|
|
|
|
