John Kerry on NAFTA, Globalization and 'Free Trade'

[RedDawnRising]

Q: The senior senator from SC, Ernest Hollings, worked hard against NAFTA He says these free trade agreements are job killers. You voted for them. Why is Sen. Hollings wrong?

KERRY: It would be a terrible mistake for the US to suddenly try to button up and move away from globalization. It's happening, no matter what.

We have to manage it more effectively. What we need is not to cancel NAFTA. We need trade. Fritz Hollings had a great article in the paper today with a number of things that would make sense to do. What's missing is a president who is prepared to negotiate to keep it from being a rush to the bottom, to raise the standards for people.

We can negotiate a raising of the standards of labor and environment. The US could be the marketer of sustainable development practices, and still open markets for us.

We need to export our capitalism and our democracy. They go hand in hand. But we need a president who is prepared to negotiate the tough trade agreements that protect people.
Source: Democratic Debate in Columbia SC May 3, 2003

KERRY:

Voted YES on extending free trade to Andean nations.
HR3009 Fast Track Trade Authority bill: To extend the Andean Trade Preference Act, to grant additional trade benefits under that Act, and for other purposes. Vote to pass a bill that would enlarge duty-free status to particular products from Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, renew the president's fast-track authority and reauthorize and increase a program to make accessible retraining and relocation assistance to U.S. workers hurt by trade agreements. It would also approve a five-year extension of Generalized System of Preferences and produce a refundable 70 percent tax credit for health insurance costs for displaced workers. Bill HR.3009 ; vote number 2002-130 on May 23, 2002


Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China.
Vote to give permanent Normal Trade Relations status to China. Currently, NTR status for China is debated and voted on annually. Bill HR.4444 ; vote number 2000-251 on Sep 19, 2000

Voted YES on expanding trade to the third world.
Vote to expand trade with more than 70 countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. The countries would be required to meet certain eligibility requirements in protecting freedoms of expression and associatio Bill HR.434 ; vote number 2000-98 on May 11, 2000

Voted YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority.
Vote to proceed to the bill which establishes negotiating objectives for trade agreements, and renews 'fast track' trade authority for the President, which allows Congress to adopt or to reject a proposed trade agreement, but not to amend it. Bill S 1269 ; vote number 1997-294 on Nov 5, 1997



http://www.issues2000.org/2004/John_Kerry_Free_Trade.htm

[aquart]

1. When does Kerry ever see a problem

with giving a president unchecked power?

[westcoastbias]

2. This is the big reason why I'm against Kerry

Without real labor and environmental standards, NAFTA is great for companies bottom line, but terrible in every other sense. So far, NAFTA has been a method for cooperations to escape any ethical conduct. This is why I position Kerry much closer to Bush than to Edwards. This is a major difference and important difference between these two candidates.

[westcoastbias]

3. Ignore this post

[abracadabra]

4. Dean's stance is against NAFTA-Kucinich AGAINST NAFTA

AGAINST GLOBALIZATION is the best for this country and for the world.

I really hope for another candidate to emerge strong but it's really hard when the media has already chosen Kerry and mentions no one else-
slightly reminiscent of the old Soviet Russian media.

Kerry is not my first choice but I'll take a lesser crime boss over Bush.

[minkyboodle]

5. great sig quote

Scott