English Calls for Revival of Fair Trade in North America

Statement

English Calls for Revival of Fair Trade in North America

Champions New Initiative to Renegotiate NAFTA

Frustrated with the shortcomings of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and its threat to jobs in Pennsylvania, U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) is pushing a new initiative to renegotiate the 15 year-old trade pact to meet the demands of 21st century trade policy.

"Because we now have Presidential candidates talking seriously, for the first time, about the issue, I feel the time is now to pursue my longstanding proposal to revive fair trade in North America," English said.

Today, English announced the Fair Trade in North America Act, legislation to establish a narrowly focused negotiating authority to empower the Executive Branch to renegotiate NAFTA and calling for world-class provisions on labor standards and enforcement, environmental protection, intellectual property and a reformed dispute settlement process among other areas. These reforms will ensure that American employers and workers continue to have strong export opportunities to Canada and in the region while at the same time insisting on a level playing field and basic conditions for workers.

English, a long time advocate in Congress for strengthening U.S. trade remedy laws and ending Chinese mercantilist trade practices including currency manipulation, first called for the renegotiation of NAFTA in 2005 during a trade speech at the Institute for International Economics.

"Three years ago I became the first member of either party of the House Ways and Means Committee to call for the renegotiation of NAFTA at a major Washington trade forum," said English, a senior member of the Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade policy. "At the time, I said that NAFTA was dysfunctional and the only solution was a renegotiation that would demand from the treaty a level playing field, credibility in environmental provisions and stop the race to the bottom on the southern border."

Implemented under the Clinton Administration in 1993, NAFTA sought to break down the barriers to trade and investment among the United States, Canada and Mexico. However, 15-years later, the deficiencies of the trilateral trade pact are glaringly obvious.
-more—
"Now, having gained additional experience in developing effective trade negotiations since NAFTA was signed, I believe we must join together and create an agreement that will strengthen, not hinder, our trade relations," said English, former Chairman, and now Vice-Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus. "One of the primary goals of any negotiation must be thoroughly improving labor and environmental standards and changing these provisions from Clinton negotiated side letters to an enforceable core part of the pact's text."

During his press conference today at Chadderton Trucking, Inc. in Sharon, Pa, English highlighted some of the abuses of NAFTA, making note of the Department of Transportation's (DOT) pilot program to provide Mexican motor-carriers unrestricted access in the U.S.

Under NAFTA, all restrictions on cross-border truck service between the U.S. and Mexico were lifted. However, since the enactment of the trade pact, increased safety violations by motor carriers residing in Mexico, has led to concerns that NAFTA's removal of the restrictions has had an adverse impact on the safety of American roads. Although English has broken with the Bush Administration and joined other House lawmakers in fighting to halt the program, the DOT launched their pilot program last fall.

"The Cross Border Demonstration Program has granted Mexican truck drivers unfettered access to the United States without a demonstrable way to verify their identity, immigration status and length of stay in United States," English said. "The program, which is a direct result of NAFTA, opens major loopholes that allow violators to disregard American laws."

English went on to note that concerns remain about NAFTA including plants relocating like Werner Ladder in Mercer County, the threat of relocation suppressing wages and low-wage Mexican jobs displacing American workers. English, who stressed the fact that NAFTA has never lived up to its own promises, said that he would use his legislation to advocate in Congress a new agreement that will ensure a level playing field for employers and effectively improve labor standards and achieve solid enforcement of environmental laws.

"All of this must be done without undercutting our access to the Canadian market which means jobs for many Pennsylvanian workers," English said. "While I recognize that this is going to be a fight, I am prepared to take this issue to the floor of the House."

Source