FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Josh Wise, 952-818-5474, josh@citizenstrade.org

On first day of negotiations, Sen. Al Franken Urges Transparency on the Trans-Pacific Partnership

Senator Al Franken has sent a letter to the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Ron Kirk, urging transparency in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement (TPP).

The Dallas TPP summit is the 12th major round of negotiations on the proposed trade and investment pact between the U.S. and countries throughout the Pacific Rim. USTR has reportedly proposed text for most, if not all, of some 26 separate chapters, covering everything from financial regulations and government procurement to consumer safety standards and the environment. None of those proposals have been officially released to the public.

“As you know, the TPP is an ambitious multilateral trade agreement currently under negotiation between nine countries – and that number may grow over time. As your office has stated, it may ultimately be the single largest trade agreement by volume in U.S. history. That makes it all the more important that the agreement be crafted in the most transparent and participatory manner possible,” writes Sen. Franken.

“…it is vitally important that the American people have as much information as possible with respect to the negotiating texts and U.S. proposals while the negotiations are still ongoing, not only once and agreement has been completed. Likewise, your consultations should be as wide as possible among stakeholders.

“I therefore request that, to the greatest extent possible, you make the substance of the proposals you have tabled public and continue to do so at the conclusion of each negotiating round. That will enable fuller input from a wider range of stakeholders, and I also request that you work to ensure that stakeholders have full and equal opportunity for input into the positions our negotiators take in the course of negotiations.”

Unfortunately, the empirical data of similar free trade agreements show major trade deficits and job loss in the U.S., including 70,712 jobs lost in Minnesota as a result of Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China in the first 10 years of that agreement – over 2.5% of the entire workforce – according to the Economic Policy Institute.

In past trade negotiations including at the World Trade Organization, the USTR has released draft texts of the negotiations after each round to the public. However, TPP negotiations have set a new bar for secrecy, with the only texts available being ones leaked to the media.

“Americans deserve to know what our government is proposing,” said Josh Wise, Director of the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition. “Free trade agreements have sent thousands of jobs overseas and severely weakened the ability of local governments to maintain the quality of life for their citizens. We applaud Senator Franken’s efforts to ensure that government is open, transparent and responsible to the people it serves.”

For detailed information about the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations happening in Dallas, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/cx8wb9u

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The Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition formed in 1991, in opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement and globalization.  Our membership has since grown to include over 40 labor, family farm, environmental, faith and social justice organizations across the state of Minnesota.  We are united in the belief that trade policy should reflect the interests and values of working people and the environment.  Our mission is to create, promote and support fair trade policy and global justice for our communities, family farms, working people, and the environment in Minnesota and around the globe.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact Josh Wise, 952-818-5474, josh@citizenstrade.org                     

MINNESOTA FAIR TRADE COALITION URGES PRESIDENT OBAMA NOT TO GREEN LIGHT COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

The Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition has sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to put greater pressure on the Colombian government to complete and enforce protections for workers before implementing the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. As the President travels to Cartegna, Colombia for the Summit for the Organization of American States, it has been speculated that he will green light the agreement to go forward. However, it is clear that Colombia is still one of the most dangerous places in the world for workers to stand up for their rights.

“Workers continue to live in fear in Colombia,” says Josh Wise, director of the MN Fair Trade Coalition. “Last year, 30 trade unionists were murdered, and this year there have already been 4 murders with no prosecution. It would unconscionable for the US to approve a race to the bottom for worker protections by implementing this agreement before Colombia fulfills its responsibilities.”

As a part of the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, Colombia was required to implement a Labor Action Plan, which would outlaw many of the worst employment practices, and give workers the rights and protections to organize. MN Fair Trade Coalition member organization, Witness for Peace, recently led a delegation to Colombia to speak with workers, and found that the Labor Action Plan is nowhere near being effectively enforced. “Colombian union leaders were killed immediately before and following my trip to Colombia with Witness for Peace in February,” says Jessica Hayssen, one of the delegates. “Echoing the Colombians I met with, I do not see the Colombian government taking significant action to prevent violence against labor leaders, a key part of the Labor Action Plan. Major decisions to implement key parts of the Free Trade Agreement, especially parts that affect worker’s lives and livelihoods should be based on concrete action, not conveniently scheduled world leader meetings.”

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The Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition formed in 1991, in opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement and globalization.  Our membership has since grown to include over 40 labor, family farm, environmental, faith and social justice organizations across the state of Minnesota.  We are united in the belief that trade policy should reflect the interests and values of working people and the environment.  Our mission is to create, promote and support fair trade policy and global justice for our communities, family farms, working people, and the environment in Minnesota and around the globe.

April 14, 2012

The Honorable Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As you prepare for the Summit for the Organization of American States in Cartegna, Colombia, we, the members of the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition urge you to continue pressure on the Colombian government to implement its Labor Action Plan before any further movement on implementing the recent free trade agreement is taken.

Columbia continues to be one of the most dangerous and deadly places in the world for workers who stand up for their rights. Thirty trade unionists were murdered in 2011 and already four have been murdered this year. The cases are being dismissed as “crimes of passion” or “accidents,” and there has yet to be a prosecution for these murders. Additionally, companies have continually refused to recognize and negotiate with unions, and the Associate Labor Cooperatives, which were supposed to be done away with under the Labor Action Plan have simply changed their names and continue to prevent workers from having effective rights on the job.

These abuses have been witnessed by many in the United States. MN Fair Trade Coalition member organization, Witness for Peace, recently led a delegation to Columbia to meet with workers and human rights organizations on the ground and experiencing the difficulties of implementing the Labor Action Plan. They saw first hand and heard many stories of abuses that are taking place and being glossed over by the Colombian government. From their experience, it was apparent that anyone who goes into the field in Colombia will immediately see that the goals of the Labor Action Plan are far from being met, and the plight of workers and indigenous people is continuing.  According to delegation participant, Jessica Hayssen, “Echoing the Colombians I met with, I do not see the Colombian government taking significant action to prevent violence against labor leaders, a key part of the Labor Action Plan.”

The empirical evidence has consistently shown that so-called free trade agreements have created a race to the bottom for labor standards around the globe, including here in the United States. However, a premature agreement with Colombia would represent a new low in standard for workers rights. In our global economy, the US should be leading a race to the top to ensure that every person has the right to protect their quality of life in a sustainable way. We urge you to take the lead in this race, hold fast to the requirements of the Labor Action Plan, and not green light any further implementation of the Colombia Free Trade Agreement until their government has unequivocally and empirically shown their commitment to workers’ and human rights.

Sincerely,

Josh Wise

Director, Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition

The US is currently in negotiations for what could be the largest so called Free Trade Agreement ever, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Negotiations are entering their eleventh round and have been conducted under an unprecedented level of secrecy. Please take a minute to sign this petition urging the US Trade Representative to release the texts of the negotiations, so that we as citizens are aware of what our government is negotiating and how that effects our jobs, our environment and our quality of life.

In the wake of the three FTA’s that passed last year, and the greater public focus on domestic issues, you may not have heard that the largest so-called free trade agreement in history is currently being negotiated. The Trans-Pacific Partnership includes Pacific Rim countries of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States. The talks also create what is known as a “docking agreement,” which means that they leave the option open for other countries such as Canada, Japan and Mexico, and possibly even China to join. Continue reading →

Here is a commentary by Josh Wise that was published in the Star Tribune today. The article it was in response to is linked here.

Counterpoint

The authors of a recent commentary in the Star Tribune Business Forum (“What trade agreement means for economic growth,” Feb. 27) claim that the Trans Pacific Partnership, or TPP, will create jobs by opening up markets.

While globalization is a fact of life, and while international trade has been occurring for millennia, we should be very cautious about the real costs of agreements like these and the effects they have on workers, farmers and our environment.

Free-trade agreements may be doing wonders for corporate profits, but the claim of job creation in Minnesota is a myth.

Continue reading →