Sirotablog

David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.

  • November 6, 2007 6:29 AM

    REPORT: Peru Labor Provisions "Worse Than Existing Law"

    In a stunning new report on the eve of the congressional vote on the Peru Free Trade Agreement, a Columbia University legal expert shows the pact may weaken the United States' ability to enforce basic labor standards in trade agreements. The report by Columbia Law professor Mark Barenberg finds that the much-touted labor protections in the Peru deal are "even worse than existing law" and "in no respect do the Agreement's labor provisions mark a significant improvement."

    The Columbia University report compares labor provisions in already-passed trade deals with the proposed provisions in the Peru deal, which congressional Democrats and the White House have sold to the public and rank-and-file lawmakers as a new and improved model that does more to protect workers. But the Columbia report shows how the Peru deal's model actually undermines existing trade laws, which he notes are already "weak, unreliable, and inadequate to the task."

    For example, the report points out that "if the U.S.-Peru Agreement becomes a model for future trade agreements, then those countries that have not adopted core labor rights in their domestic law will not be bound" by international labor standards. He also notes that under current law, a President of the United States has the unilateral authority to impose sanctions on a country that does not respect international labor standards. But under the Peru trade model "If the President decides that Peru is failing to comply with vague labor 'principles' or domestic labor law, he cannot impose sanctions - he can only file a complaint."

    The report's findings likely explain why no major labor, human rights, environmental, religious, anti-poverty or consumer protection groups have endorsed the Peru Free Trade Agreement, while most of Washington's corporate lobbying sector has. It also explains why the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has assured its members that "the labor provisions cannot be read to require compliance."

    Download the Columbia University report here. The Peru Free Trade Agreement is expected to be voted on in the U.S. House this week.

    Posted by David Sirota
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    Tags: free trade

Discussion

  • n*t* [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    But isn't that the point. My understanding is many Latin Americans dislike the trade agreements because they will weaken their standards. In other words we are their Mexico.

    But more to the point are not these trade agreements simply a back door to weaken our labor, consumer, and environmental standards. Have these "negatives" been put in by Peru in this case, or have they been put in by the barbarians inside the gate to accomplish what they could not do by other means.

    I have only one criteria for president this year, no R or D after their name.

    BTW, nice new blog.

    Posted on November 6, 2007 7:55 AM
  • NAFTA is rigged not free [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    I encourage all to check out John Macarthur's book entitled THE SELLING of FREE TRADE: NAFTA, WASHINGTON and the SUBVERSION of AMERICAN DEMOCRACY which was published in 2000...The book chronicles how Bill Clinton betrayed the core values of the Democratic Party. Clinton decided to grub for corporate cash as a "new" kind of Democrat in the campaign on 1992 so as to "take the issue off the table" in his race with Bush 41...In August of 1993, after winning election and preparing a PR offensive to con the Congress into passing NAFTA, Clinton paraded side agreements on labor and the environment as victories even though he knew them to be toothless shams...Clinton held secret meetings with scores of K Street lobbyists/corporate contributors in mounting a full-scale coercion of the Congress ... Clinton allied with Gingrich and the Republicans to pass NAFTA by the narrowest of margins in a full-scale subversion of the will of the American populace...All trade deals since --- PNTR with China, CAFTA, Peru have been modeled after NAFTA - - - that is where the SUBVERSION began...That is why HILLARY CLINTON's feet need to be held to the FIRE --- That is why that witch needs to be burned at the ALTAR - - - It is time for the soul of the Democratic Part to be RE-CLAIMED - - - The Donkey Party needs to be PURGED of CLINTON INCORPORATED

    Posted on November 6, 2007 10:59 AM
  • January [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    "Some will rob you with a six-gun and some with a fountain pen" says the old folk tune.

    The animosity toward the US from south of the border is already enormous. Yes, for the moment it poses no serious danger. But that's also what our foreign policy experts said about the Islamic world, before 9/11.

    Blowback, blowback, and more blowback is what we live with and what our descendants will have to live with. Of course, that all fits the Orwell "1984" scenario of perpetual war. (BTW. The past Sunday LA Times opinion has a great conversation about Orwell. Timely.)

    Posted on November 6, 2007 11:03 AM

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