Showdown Looming On Colombian Free Trade Agreement

[Joanne98]

Showdown Looming On Colombian Free Trade Agreement
James A. Morrissey, Washington Correspondent
The powerful chairman of the Senate Finance Committee has made a strong appeal for Congress to pass an expanded trade adjustment assistance (TAA) bill to help workers who lose their jobs as a result of imports, and he has warned the Bush administration that the Senate will not act on pending Bush administration free trade agreements (FTAs) until that has been accomplished.

In an opening statement at a Finance Committee hearing on the Bush administration’s 2008 trade agenda, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., said: “I have made it clear where we must begin. We must begin with reform, expansion and implementation of trade adjustment assistance. After listening to my constituents, my colleagues and my conscience, I am certain that we must put a better TAA program in place before Congress can move on to other trade priorities, especially the pending free trade agreements.”

A number of textile state members in both the House and Senate have been backing expanded TAA programs to help textile and apparel workers who have lost their jobs to continuing import competition.

Following the hearing, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab appeared to be heading for a confrontation with Baucus when she said the administration would be sending the Colombian FTA to Congress shortly after the Easter recess. “Given the calendar, and given the President’s desire and commitment to see a vote on the Colombian FTA this year, we will be forced to send it up absent that kind of a commitment from the leadership in Congress,” she said. Under the “fast track” procedure that permits an up or down vote from Congress without any amendments, Congress has 90 days after the date it receives the bill to vote on it.

The administration’s position could result in a major showdown between the Democratic leadership in Congress and the administration.
http://www.textileworld.com/Articles/2008/March_2008/Textile_News/Showdown_Looming_On_Colombian_Free_Trade_Agreement.html

[Joanne98]

1. Bush wants protectionist Democrats to heed Harper on NAFTA

PAUL KORING

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

March 19, 2008 at 4:56 AM EDT

WASHINGTON — U.S. President George. W. Bush urged yesterday that protectionist Democrats now controlling Congress heed the "wise words" of Canada's Conservative Prime Minister and pass more free-trade pacts, in particular one with Colombia.

In a speech addressed to dockworkers in Jacksonville, Fla., where ships from Latin American countries crowd the port, the President made a rare reference to Stephen Harper, invoking the Prime Minister's ringing endorsement of the value of unfettered trade.

"I want the members of Congress to hear what the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, said," Mr. Bush said in his own speech seeking backing for a free trade deal with Colombia, now stalled in Congress.

"He said, 'If the U.S. turns its back on its friends in Colombia, this will set back our cause far more than any Latin American dictator can hope to achieve.' "

Mr. Harper originally made the comment in a speech given last fall in New York to the Council on Foreign Relations.

But in an election year with the U.S. economy reeling and jobless rates rising, both NAFTA - the free-trade agreement binding Canada, Mexico and the United States - and newly negotiated free-trade agreements with other countries have become political footballs.

Both Democrat presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, have said NAFTA needs to be opened and fixed.

Mr. Bush is trying to win bipartisan support in Congress for several trade deals.

"Once Congress approves the free-trade agreement with Colombia, then they can approve one with Panama. And once they've finished one with Panama, then they can do one with South Korea. All these agreements are important," the President said yesterday in Florida.

The White House insists "Colombia has been a strong and capable partner in fighting drugs, crime, and terror. Since 2002, kidnappings have dropped 83 per cent, terrorist attacks have dropped 76 per cent, and murders have dropped 40 per cent. ... The U.S.-Colombia free-trade agreement will advance our national security by strengthening a key democratic ally and sending a clear message to the region."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080319.wnafta19/BNStory/International/home

[old guy]

2. No matter what,

Congress should never agree to the fast track approach on anything. Take every line apart and analyze it completely. Debate, debate and debate some more. Any time * wants something in a hurry you can bet it will not be good for us. Just saying.