Sen. Clinton opposes Colombia, Panama trade deals

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian/Reuters

Sen. Clinton opposes Colombia, Panama trade deals
Reuters Friday November 9 2007
By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Democratic presidential front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton said on Thursday she opposes pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, but would vote for a pact with Peru.
The New York Democrat has previously said she opposed the South Korean agreement, but had not taken a position on the three Latin American trade pacts.

Her opposition to the Colombia and Panama agreements could make it much harder for the Bush administration to persuade Democrats to vote for those accords, particularly if she holds onto her lead in the race for the Democratic nomination.
(snip)

"I support the trade agreement with Peru. It has very strong labor and environmental protections," Clinton said in a statement. "This agreement makes meaningful progress on advancing workers' rights, and also levels the playing field for American workers."

"However, I will oppose the pending trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama," she said.
"The South Korean agreement does not create a level playing field for American carmakers. I am very concerned about the history of violence against trade unionists in Colombia. And as long as the head of Panama's National Assembly is a fugitive from justice in America, I cannot support that agreement."
(snip)

Edwards recently announced his opposition to all four trade agreements and has pressed Clinton to make her position clear.


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