TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) trade agreement makes it into the Democratic Party Platform

[limpyhobbler]

Celebrate "free trade" fans!

...Free and Fair Trade. We have also sought to promote free and fair trade. Because of the economic dynamism of the Asia-Pacific region, which is already home to more than half the global economy, expanding trade with that region is critical to creating jobs and opportunities for the American people. Building on the free trade agreement with South Korea that President Obama signed, we are working with our partners in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum to create a seamless regional economy, promote green growth, and coordinate regulatory reform. Alongside Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam, we are on track to finalize the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a historic high-standard agreement that will address new and emerging trade issues, lower barriers to the free flow of trade and investment, increase exports, and create more American jobs. Exploring opportunities to shape the multilateral trading system to reflect the role and responsibility of major emerging markets in the global economy is a critical part of the President’s trade agenda...

http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform

[Brickbat]

1. Disgusting.

[dwilso40641]

2. That Sucks

[Dawgs]

3. This is why I support Progressives only; and not the Democratic party as a whole. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. I for one, am all but shocked or surprised

[pampango]

5. We have "free-trade" agreements with 3 of those: Australia, Singapore and Chile and a trade surplus

with all of them in 2011 and so far in 2012.

Australia:
Exports from the US: in 2011 - $27.5 billion; so far in 2012 - $15.3 billion;
Imports into the US: in 2011 - $10.2 billion; so far in 2012 - $4.8 billion;
Net US trade surplus with Australia - $17.3 billion in 2011 and $10.5 billion so far in 2012 (through 6/30/12)

Chile:
Exports from the US in 2011 - $16.0 billion; so far in 2012 - $9.0 billion;
Imports into the US in 2011 - $9.1 billion; so far in 2012 - $4.9 billion;
Net US trade surplus with Chile - $6.9 billion in 2011 and $4.1 billion so far in 2012 (through 6/30/12)

Singapore:
Exports from the US in 2011: $31.2 billion; so far in 2012 - $15.3 billion;
Imports into the US in 2011: $19.1 billion; so far in 2012 - $10.1 billion;
Net US trade surplus with Singapore - $12.1 billion in 2011 and so far in 2012 - $5.2 billion.

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/index.html

Not only that but - it gets worse - Obama may be planning to open trade negotiation with (gasp!!) the EU that high-wage, unionized, highly-regulated economic behemoth to our east.

"His (Obama's) administration is also exploring trade talks with the 27-nation European Union and could make a decision to launch negotiations with Brussels by the end of the year."

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/08/16/us-usa-campaign-trade-idINBRE87F11420120816

[amandabeech]

11. The EU is having all sorts of problems right now.

I certainly hope that any engagement by us through treaty with the EU would not happen until the EU sorts itself out.

How are NAFTA and the other trade agreements working out for folks in Ohio, anyway?

They're not doing much good in my home state of Michigan in the eyes of most people who live there.

[Nye Bevan]

6. Fine with me, and good for exporters.

Protectionism tends to end badly. I appreciate the pro-free trade policies of Obama and the Democratic Party.

[msongs]

8. including the part where corporations take away your constitutional rights as an American? nt

[limpyhobbler]

12. So I guess the Dems and Repubs are in agreement on this issue now?

Would that be a fair statement ?

[Joe Shlabotnik]

7. groan

[woo me with science]

9. Time for the denial to end

and time to pressure our party to represent us again.

[woo me with science]

10. kick