Reps. Kaptur, Jones Host Bipartisan Trade Discussion
WASHINGTON—Representatives Marcy Kaptur and Walter Jones hosted a trade discussion on Capitol Hill this afternoon to rebut common arguments used to push “Fast Track” Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and global trade deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Reps. Kaptur and Jones were joined by panelists Dr. Robert Scott, Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Research at the Economic Policy Institute, and Alan Tonelson, founder of RealityChek and thirty year veteran economist specializing in manufacturing and global trade.
“Every time a massive trade deal comes down the pike, American workers and their families, including families throughout Northern Ohio, take the hit,”said Kaptur. “Outsourcing jobs and ballooning trade deficits contribute directly to the dismantling of major production sites for our national economy. In the last quarter century, the United States has failed to enact any major trade agreement that has resulted in trade surpluses for the U.S. In fact, NAFTA, the Korea-U.S. FTA and China’s PNTR designation have all cost our nation millions of lost jobs and lost gross domestic productivity.”
Kaptur continued, “We cannot afford another repeat of this damaging history. Fast Tracking global trade deals is a harmful and dangerous policy that overrides our Congressional responsibility to debate and amend trade agreements that directly impact communities we represent. If we had a trade deal on the table that would employ more workers and expand businesses of all sizes, it would stand up to Congressional scrutiny. The only reason to Fast Track these deals would be to hide their provisions from Congress and the American people. I cannot and will not accept such a reckless approach.”
“I strongly oppose giving fast-track authority to President Obama,”added Rep. Jones. “For the past six years the President has ignored Congress, repeatedly abused his executive authority, and flaunted the law on Obamacare, amnesty for illegal aliens, and many other things. Given his record, I am astonished that some of my colleagues are so eager to fork over even more of their constitutional authority to the President for him to abuse. It would be incredibly naïve to think that the president has changed his approach and will now dutifully follow whatever statutory trade negotiating instructions Congress might seek to require of him in a fast-track bill.”
Panelist Alan Tonelson added, “It’s simply implausible to think that negotiating new trade deals based on past failed trade deals can possible boost US economic growth, increase job creation and raise wages. In fact history teaches us exactly the opposite. The trade flows that have been most heavily influenced by U.S trade policies have cut growth, have reduced job creation and lowered wages. Those are the last things the U.S. economy needs right now.”
PanelistDr. Robert Scott praised the discussion as “a very timely event” and added, “Trade agreements and the arguments for Fast Track and Trade Promotion Authority have been based largely on specious claims that exports generate jobs and growth in the economy. This is central to the argument for these trade deals, but the facts reveal time after time that U.S. trade and investment deals with countries like Mexico, Korea, China and the proposed TPP have led to growing trade deficits, rising job loss, millions of jobs in the United States and downward pressure on wages for millions and millions of working Americans. We have to keep this in mind with these trade proposals.”
More than 5 million manufacturing jobs have been lost since NAFTA was enacted while average family wages in Northern Ohio are down an estimated $7,000 per year. Since 1976, the U.S. has racked up a cumulative $9.5 trillion in trade deficits, the equivalent of 47,500,000 jobs lost or never created.
The event was broadcast live online and can be seen here: https://youtu.be/8U-dAcmGZ3E
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