A first step towards fair trade.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

In John Kerry's Foreign Policy Speech at Georgetown University he mentioned using the Jordan Free Trade Agreement as a model for future trade agreements.

Labor provisions:
For the first time in a U.S. trade agreement, rather than in a side agreement, the Jordan FTA includes in the body of the agreement key provisions that reconfirm that free trade and the protection of the rights of workers can go hand in hand. These provisions reaffirm the parties support for the core labor standards adopted in the 1998 International Labor Organization s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. The countries also reaffirmed their belief that is inappropriate to lower standards to encourage trade, and agreed in principle to strive to improve their labor standards. Each side agreed to enforce its own existing labor laws and to settle disagreements on enforcement of these laws through a dispute settlement process.

Environmental provisions:
Again, for the first time in the body of a free trade agreement, the Jordan FTA includes a separate set of substantive provisions on trade and the environment. Specifically, each country agreed to avoid relaxing environmental laws to encourage trade. The United States and Jordan affirmed their belief in the principle of sustainable development, and agreed to strive to maintain high levels of environmental protection and to improve their environmental laws. Each side also agreed to a provision on effective enforcement of its environmental laws, and to settle disagreements on enforcement of these laws through a dispute settlement process. Both countries are conducting environmental reviews, which were extremely useful in developing some of the provisions of the agreement.

The United States and Jordan also agreed on an environmental cooperation initiative, which establishes a U.S.-Jordanian Joint Forum on Environmental Technical Cooperation for ongoing discussion of environmental priorities, and identifies environmental quality and enforcement as areas of initial focus. The environmental elements of the FTA package also include language on transparency and public input, and on environmental exceptions. Finally, the FTA includes a "win/win" initiative -- an initiative that is good for both business and the environment by eliminating tariffs on a number of environmental goods and technologies and liberalizing Jordanian restrictions on certain environmental services.
http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2000/10/factsheet.html
http://www.ustr.gov/regions/eu-med/middleeast/US-JordanFTA.shtml

I know anti-globalization is a popular viewpoint at DU, but I personally think being anti-globalization in the 21st Century is akin to being anti-industrialization in the 19th Century. This Agreement is far from perfect but it is a step in the right direction.

[redqueen]

1. Being anti-free-trade is not the same as being anti-trade

Trade is inevitable. Globalization is inevitable.

I don't know what this Jordan thing is, or whether or not Kerry thinks it will somehow supercede the WTO's rulings or NAFTA's hundreds of pages of rules. I'd like to see clear evidence that it can supercede these other agreements before I go all ga-ga over how wonderful a solution it is.

NAFTA, the WTO, CAFTA, GATT, etc. were not handed down by a deity. They stink, they were designed to profit the powerful at the expense of the weak, and they have to go.

This idea that if you're against the horrible existing agreements you're somehow an 'isolationsist' is a LIE.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. Just who stated this horrible lie you are talking about and when?

Does it exist? In what context was it stated? Who stated it?

In short, what are you talking about?

[JanMichael]

3. I've heard it both on DU and other boards.

It's nothing new. How did you miss it?

[redqueen]

4. Seriously?

"I personally think being anti-globalization in the 21st Century is akin to being anti-industrialization in the 19th Century"

By this, you seem to be implying (being very diplomatic here) that if you oppose free trade, then you're automatically 'anti-globalization'. Do you really believe that?

I've had it up to here with all the loose talk that's slung around about these trade agreements (e.g. 'we can reform it', 'we can't be isolationist', 'that's anti-globalization, etc.) We're doing nothing but substantiating the mutinational corporations' right to rule.

Is this Jordan trade thing intended to replace NAFTA and the WTO? If not, it solves very little, if anything.

[redqueen]

5. And just so you know....

I'm not mad at you... it's just that I've been having such a hard time over the past 8 months or so understanding just why so many democrats won't take a good hard look at this situation, and deal with it. I think many, many democrats are whistling past the graveyard, when if we wanted to, we could solve a really damaging problem AND co-opt votes from the right.

And this should have been a reply to the main message, or to Feanorcurufinwe, not to myself. I think you get it. D'oh.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. No I didn't mean to imply anything. I meant what I said.

And as I said, the Jordan Free Trade Agreement is an example of the direction we should be moving in future trade agreements.

[redqueen]

7. And you may very well have a very good point

However, if you have a good understanding about the mess we're in now, planning for future agreements won't help get us out of it. It's good that Kerry's working on something better... is he going to say he's ready to scrap the crap we have now?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. I could be wrong but

I didn't think the President had the power to just cancel treaties that have already been ratified...?

[redqueen]

10. Everyone thought that, including Dennis Kucinich

That's why he filed a suit against the Bu$hCo regime to prevent them from withdrawing from all the treaties they pulled out of.

But whaddaya know? The courts backed up the bushistas.

So now the Kooch knows he can do it, and he will. :)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

11. Are you talking about Kyoto? That was never ratified.

Could you fill me in on more details of the lawsuit?

[sandnsea]

12. This is where Kerry would go

This is the kind of trade agreements he supports. He didn't go to every single international environmental meeting just to find Teresa you know. He believes in trade as a means to engage countries instead of marginalize them, like we did with NKorea. Then we move to trade agreements like with Jordan as quickly as possible. In the mean time, we invest in new technologies so that we are always at the forefront of manufacturing, selling high value items instead of cheap goods. That's the way we've done it for 50 years under Democrats. It's only when Republicans get in office and screw up the system in favor of corporations and stockholders that we start losing manufacturing jobs again.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

14. I don't think you're lying, but your statement is very deceptiive

This is what you said Feanorcurufinwe:

"I know anti-globalization is a popular viewpoint at DU, but I personally think being anti-globalization in the 21st Century is akin to being anti-industrialization in the 19th Century."

I'd love to see a post from anyone on DU who says they are against globalizing? I certainly support globalization - I mean, meeting people from other countries is a good thing, and I support it :hi: I love those foreign exchange programs, for instance, and I support the UN.

Now I certainly don't think that rich people and their corporations should be able to overturn our environmental laws or have us fined! I believe in democracy, do you?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. I highly object to your scurrilous, dishonest, and mean-spirited attack

against me. Your cute method of calling me a liar, while simultaneously accusing me of being against democracy, has apparently been approved by the moderators as an acceptable form of debate.

It is your post that I find deceptive. For one thing you say:

"I certainly support globalization - I mean, meeting people from other countries is a good thing, and I support it :hi: I love those foreign exchange programs, for instance, and I support the UN."

when I fully believe you are intelligent enough to know that that is not what globalization means.

You then go on to set up anti-democratic, pro-corporatist straw man arguments for me to defend -- I'm not biting.


Yes, anti-globalization sentiment is common at DU, among leftists, and even in my own heart. If you disagree with that - fine. You can disagree with me without saying that I am being 'deceptive'.

Your post perfectly illustrates the lowest, most egregiously rude, and most calculatingly dishonest type of debate.

:puke:

[redqueen]

8. These threads (free / fair trade threads) always drop like a rock

Interesting. Guess we want to adopt the third world's living conditions. :shrug:

[revcarol]

13. I am glad that he is following Kucinich's ideas.

Bi-lateral trade with worker and environmental rights and responsibilities is really the way to go.

BUT, WHEN IS HE GOING TO REPEAL NAFTA AND THE WTO?

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

15. Wow, this is Dennis Kucinich's idea of Bilateral Trade Agreements!

This is a Bilateral Trade Agreement - between two countries, Jordan and the US, and it includes labor and environmental protections.

I'm very glad to hear Kerry has moved closer to Kucinich's positions. Good for Kerry!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. I have tremendous respect for DK but it was the Clinton administration

that negotiated this agreement. Give credit where credit is due.

[revcarol]

17. Credit acknowledged...Clinton

if Kerry thinks this ought to be the model, why did he vote for NAFTA, WTO and fast-track for China? They didn't have
ANYTHING good in them for ordinary people and ordinary workers, just favored corporations with the "damage" clause.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

18. Then why all the lies about Kucinich being "protectionist"

or anti-trade or anti-globalization? Kucinich has been saying that he supports Bilateral Trade Agreements with Labor and Environmental Protections every chance he gets - and then people say he's anti-trade.

I guess it's just more lies.

Kucinich should get the credit - he is the one talking about it on the campaign trail.

[BrewCrew]

20. Both DK and Gephardt

Actually both Kucincih and Gephardt were major drafters of this agreement. I even think Gephardt went to Jordan with the trade rep and helped negotiate it. Anyway its good to see the others are finally coming around to Dick and Dennis' position on this issue. I wonder what took them so long? The influence of labor in presidential democratic primaries, seeing millions of jobs outsourced from the industrial heartland to China, Mexico, and any other place where folks work for a nickel on hour?

Not sure we can trust em' all. I hope I'm wrong