X-Post from Economy Group: Watch AFL-CIO Trade Conference Live Online Tuesday June 28

[OrwellwasRight]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/111678479

Tweet the conference live using the hashtag #BetterTrade

Global trade agreements have become a critical part of the national debate about the economic policies our country needs to ensure broadly shared prosperity today and in the future. This convening will examine the impacts of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the U.S.-EU Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) on jobs, wages, national security and democratic accountability.

Every remaining presidential candidate is on the record opposing the TPP. While proponents of the agreement reluctantly admit that corporate trade deals do have a down-side, they contend that the TPP is vital to the U.S. economy and that an improved Trade Adjustment Assistance program will help the small number of workers who are negatively impacted. Proponents also argue that trade is a national security issue, that passage of the TPP puts the U.S. in charge of writing global trade rules and that rejection of the agreement will cede future control of trade to China.

Does the process and substance of international trade and investment deals work for working families globally? This conference will examine the arguments, the evidence and the alternatives. There is no cost to participate.


9:00 - 9:45 a.m.—Introduction & Welcome

Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO President
US Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)
Joseph Stiglitz (via video)

9:50 - 11:20 a.m.—Trade & the Economy

The rise of the WTO and other trade agreements coincided with the rise of neoliberal economics in the West. What is the relationship between the two? What does the evidence show about the impact of neoliberal trade agreements on jobs, wages, consumer demand, monopoly power, and income inequality? Is the economic modeling used by the U.S. International Trade Commission, a good predictor of outcomes from FTAs? What is the impact of neoliberal trade deals on worker bargaining power? Does Trade Adjustment Assistance adequately compensate those harmed by U.S. trade policy? Are the rules proposed in the TPP, TTIP and TISA the right ones to advance shared prosperity?

Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research
Joseph Guzman, Michigan State University
Thomas Palley, AFL-CIO
Rob Scott, Economic Policy Institute

Moderator: Thea Lee, AFL-CIO

11:20 - 11:35 a.m.—Break

11:35 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.—Secrecy, Democracy & Trade

How does the manner in which trade agreements are negotiated contribute to the reality or perception that they are not in the public interest? Who wins and who loses in secret negotiations? What is the role and purpose of exclusive trade advisory committees? What is the appropriate role for Congressional Representatives and civil society voices? How else could trade deals be negotiated? Could they be concluded if they were more public?

James Love, Knowledge Ecology International
Dan Pearson, Cato Institute

Moderator: Don Lee, Los Angeles Times

12:30 - 1:25 p.m.—Lunch

1:30 - 3:00 p.m.—Trade & the Public Good

Do the TPP, TTIP and TISA strike the right balance between trade and investment promotion and other policy goals? What are the risks of treating domestic policy choices (such as consumer and environmental protections and the provision of public services) as mere trade barriers to be overcome? How does the creation of a private justice for international investors affect fundamental human rights, particularly for vulnerable populations? How could trade deals assist in addressing climate change and inclusive, sustainable development? Do trade deals leave space for policy growth and innovation? If not, what will happen when new economic models displace the current dominant approach to trade and investment?

Elsadig Elsheikh, Haas Institute at UC Berkeley
Brooke Guven, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Sanya Reid Smith, Third World Network
Mark Langevin, Public Services International

Moderator: Ari Rabin-Havt, Host of The Agenda on SiriusXM Radio

3:00 - 3:15 p.m.—Break

3:15 - 4:45 p.m.—Trade & Security

Do trade deals have an appreciable impact on security? How will the Trans-Pacific Partnership affect China’s trade relations with its Pacific neighbors or improve U.S.-China relations? Will the TPP ensure that “we” write the rules of trade rather than China (and who is “we” anyway)? What can we learn from NAFTA and CAFTA about the relationship between trade and national security?

Jeff Faux, Economic Policy Institute
Heather Hurlburt, New America
Manuel Perez Rocha, Institute for Policy Studies
Michael Wessel, The Wessel Group

Moderator: Damon Silvers, AFL-CIO

4:45 - 5:00 p.m.—Closing Remarks

William Spriggs, PhD., AFL-CIO