Rep. McCarthy Statement on US-Peru Free Trade Agreement

Statement

Rep. McCarthy Statement on US-Peru Free Trade Agreement

The following is a statement from Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4) on House passage of the US-Peru Free trade Agreement.

"Today, I voted to pass the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA). For the first time in trade agreement history, the US-Peru FTA incorporates international labor standards that are enforceable like all other provisions. The standards come directly from the International Labor Organization's 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at work, and include the freedom of association, the right to organize and bargain collectively, and prohibitions on child labor, forced labor and discrimination in employment.

The same is true for the environment. For the first time in a bilateral trade agreement there is an enforceable requirement for both countries to abide by international environmental standards. These protections will ensure no harm is done to the ecosystem of Peru simply to promote trade with the US.

The language of this FTA will allow for increased access to Peruvian markets for US produced goods. All imports from Peru will still be faced with a tariff before entering the US. Because of this, American jobs are safe, and we will see an increase in new jobs as a result of the agreement.

Since being elected to Congress ten years ago, I have stood by the American worker. I have vocally opposed previous FTA's that did not protect workers both at home and abroad. The US-Peru FTA is a ground-breaking agreement that sets a new precedent for worker protections. Our domestic workers are this nation's livelihood and I am proud to support a FTA that puts their interests first."

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