[CTC_TRADE] Taylor introduces bipartisan push to withdrawal from NAFTA

[Andrew Gussert]

This makes the TRADE Act look moderate ; )

 

From: Rabin, Ethan [mailto:ethan.rabin at mail.house.gov] 
Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 9:14 AM
Subject: Reps Taylor, Jones, DeFazio and Stupak Introduce HR 4759 to
Withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement

 

Attached is a copy of the press release, the bill and some handouts showing
manufacturing job loss along with trade deficits with both Canada and
Mexico.  We currently have 27 co-sponsors including my boss.  We are going
to continue working to grow the co-sponsor list - so please alert your
members to the introduction of the legislation and if you have any
questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Thanks

 

Ethan

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

HR 4579 Introduced to Repeal the North American Free Trade Agreement

 

                Contact: Ethan Rabin
202-225-5772      

                                 Brian Martin
202-225-5772

 

Thursday February 25, 2010 (Washington, DC) - Representatives Gene Taylor,
Walter Jones, Peter DeFazio, Bart Stupak, Michael Arcuri, Joe Baca, Roscoe
Bartlett, Bruce Braley, Michael Capuano, Jerry Costello, Bob Filner, Raul
Grijalva, Phil Hare, Maurice Hinchey, Steve Kagen, Marcy Kaptur, Dale
Kildee, Larry Kissell, Dennis Kucinich, Mike McIntyreEric Massa, Mike
Michaud, and Ron Paul, Mark Schauer, Peter Visclosky, Charlie Wilson and
Lynn Woolsey introduced HR 4579 to repeal the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA).

 

NAFTA and similar free trade agreements have resulted in a 29% decline in
U.S. manufacturing employment since 1993.  NAFTA discourages investments in
U.S. manufacturing facilities and accelerates the erosion of our industrial
base.

 

In 1993 prior to the United States entering into the North American Free
Trade Agreement, the U.S. had a trade surplus of $1.7 Billion with Mexico.
By 2007 this trade surplus turned into a massive deficit that peaked at $75
Billion.  As our economy declined in 2009 our trade deficit with Mexico
dropped to $47 billion.  Our trade deficit with Canada in 1993 was $11
Billion prior to NAFTA.  By 2008 the trade deficit swelled to $78 billion
and dropped to $20 Billion with the decline of the economy in 2009.

 

Congressman Gene Taylor said that "I voted against this legislation in 1993
because I knew that this trade agreement would lead to a decline in jobs and
our industrial manufacturing base.  Just look at what happened when the
Department of Defense needed to rapidly build Mine Resistant Ambush
Protected vehicles."  

 

He went on to explain that "In 2007 the DoD decided to increase the number
of MRAPs in Iraq and bought 17,700 vehicles.  Because of our diminished
manufacturing capacity, it took 9 different contractors working together to
build all of these vehicles.  The decline in our manufacturing base left the
contractors without a trained workforce to build these vehicles.  This led
to delays and choke points in production and overall delivery of the MRAPS.
This was a logistical nightmare.  Without a sufficient industrial base
capable of mass production, we are forced to spend more tax-dollars because
each contractor had to train workers and re-invent the parts for production.
In some cases, we were dependent on foreign countries.  These contractors
had to literally re-invent the wheel or purchase the tires from France and
Israel."

 

The United States has lost 29% of its manufacturing base since 1993.  Almost
5 million jobs have left the U.S. and never returned.  Before 1993 U.S.
manufacturing jobs were responsible for approximately 17 million jobs.  By
2009 U.S. manufacturing employment dropped to about 12 million workers.
Mississippi has been hit particularly hard losing 39% of its manufacturing
jobs.  240,000 people worked in manufacturing jobs prior to NAFTA.  As a
result of this trade agreement, 93,000 jobs have left the state.

 

Taylor concluded by saying "Timing is everything in life and it's the right
time to pass this legislation.  Proponents have had more than enough time to
make this work - It didn't."

###

 

__________________

Ethan Rabin

Rep. Gene Taylor

Legislative Director

202-225-5772 (ph.)

202-225-7074(fax)

ethan.rabin at mail.house.gov

 

 

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