TPP Would Gut Buy American: Happy July 4th!

[cali]

Red, white and sounds unbelievable. But, indeed, as American celebrate July 4th this year, U.S. trade negotiators are locked behind closed doors at a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiating round in Ottawa gutting Buy American policies.

The Buy American Act requires that most federal government procurement contracts go to American firms unless a product is not made here or the U.S. products is much more expensive. From the workers who manufacture the materials to upgrade America's bridges and highways to those who build the cars driven by our government officials, Buy American creates U.S. jobs by recycling U.S. tax dollars back into our economy.

That's why Buy American is supported by four out of five voters -- Republicans, Democrats and independents alike.

But Buy American would be gutted, and American jobs lost, under the TPP, the sweeping "trade" deal that President Obama says he wants to sign this year with 11 Pacific Rim nations. The TPP would require a waiver of the original Buy American preferences in place since 1933 as well as additional Buy American preference programs established more recently.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lori-wallach/tpp-would-gut-buy-american_b_5556061.html

[Maedhros]

1. Our elected officials care nothing for America.

Their constituents are multi-national corporations.

[villager]

2. In each of the "two" parties

n/t

[cali]

3. kick