[CTC] Obama Op-Ed: Maine Needs Fair Trade Reform, Mr. President

[Daphne Loring]

As Members of President's Export Council, Stabenow and Brown Raise Concerns
Over Effects of Proposed 

U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement on American Workers, Business; Stress Trade
Enforcement

Jul 20,2010

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Sherrod Brown
(D-OH) sent a letter to President Obama expressing concern over the
Administration's proposed U.S.-Korea free trade agreement. The senators,
Congressionally-appointed members of the President's Export Council, urged
the President to "drive a hard bargain with Korea" in any U.S.-Korea free
trade agreement in order to combat unfair trade practices and protect
American jobs and innovation.

 

"A vital component of an export and jobs creation strategy is a trade agenda
that does not repeat the mistakes of the previous administration. We need
trade agreements that increase market access to U.S. goods so that we are
exporting products, not jobs. At the same time, we must initiate more
enforcement cases that target the most pressing barriers facing American
workers and businesses," the senators wrote. 

 

"As it stands, the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement falls short of the new
course that the Administration has advocated-a path that would ensure strong
labor, safety, and environmental standards; open up Korea's markets to
support good American jobs, including in auto manufacturing; ensure a fair
investment environment while not exposing taxpayers from liabilities due to
investor-state provisions; and contain robust mechanisms for enforcement,"
the senators continued. "We respectfully request that your Administration
work closely with Congress to address concerns about the contents of this
agreement, as well as concerns about the broader trade policy framework."

 

Stabenow and Brown's full letter to the President is below.

 

July 19, 2010

 

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20500

 

Dear President Obama:

 

As members of the President's Export Council, we write today to express our
support of your goal to double U.S. exports in the next five years, and we
look forward to working with you to carry out the National Export Initiative
in the coming months.

 

A vital component of an export and jobs creation strategy is a trade agenda
that does not repeat the mistakes of the previous administration. We need
trade agreements that increase market access to U.S. goods so that we are
exporting products, not jobs. At the same time, we must initiate more
enforcement cases that target the most pressing barriers facing American
workers and businesses. Without a demonstrated change in strategy, we are
concerned about your promotion of the proposed U.S.-Korea Free Trade
Agreement. 

 

As it stands, the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement falls short of the new
course that the Administration has advocated-a path that would ensure strong
labor, safety, and environmental standards; open up Korea's markets to
support good American jobs, including in auto manufacturing; ensure a fair
investment environment while not exposing taxpayers from liabilities due to
investor-state provisions; and contain robust mechanisms for enforcement. We
respectfully request that your Administration work closely with Congress to
address concerns about the contents of this agreement, as well as concerns
about the broader trade policy framework.

 

The challenge before your Administration and Congress is how to promote
trade and exports, along with better working conditions, the protection of
American innovation, and the rule of law. We believe the Administration must
focus on driving a hard bargain with Korea- one that shows success in
gaining market access while combating unfair trade practices, and provide a
new framework that gives confidence to American producers and manufacturers
that global trade deals produce jobs and better living conditions at home
and abroad.

 

We are eager to work with you to address these issues and to move forward
with trade policies that reflect the changing needs of American communities
and the new realities of the global economy. We are confident we can and
will accomplish this.

 

Sincerely,

 

Sherrod Brown

United States Senator

 

Debbie Stabenow

United States Senator

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