| Baucus made a pitch for changes to be made to trade policy, including adding environmental and labor protections to agreements. It's not bad policy; in fact, these are the kinds of things those of us who are against "free" trade want. Commonsense protection encouraging competition, not exploitation.
Baucus' four "areas where changes must be made":
First, the federal government must take up its responsibility in the face of globalization, he said. That includes enforcing trade agreements, protecting consumers and providing assistance to workers who lose their jobs or are otherwise affected by global trade.
This fall, his panel will take up bills on trade enforcement and trade adjustment assistance, he said.
Second, the U.S. must multiply its successes. He cited a May 10 bipartisan agreement to require environmental and labor norms in trade deals and said skeptics must be shown that those provisions work. He also said tariffs should be adjusted so that everyday items like socks and T-shirts are taxed less than luxury goods. The U.S. must build its trade relations with China, he said.
"We do have real problems with China," he said. "But we cannot disengage."
Third, the U.S. must focus on its strengths and needs. The U.S. should pursue trade agreements with countries such as Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan and India. He advocated for an intellectual property agreement and elimination of tariffs on environmental goods and services.
Lastly, the U.S. must rethink its policies to predict and embrace change, he said, rather than react to it.
There's a lot left out, of course. Is fast-track off the table? Will the international trade bodies - WTO, e.g. -- have democratic representation? Can we repeal existing, bad agreements, and refashion them into fair trade agreements?
We folks on the left aren't against "globalization," we're against world corporatization, which is what you get under our current trade policies. We prefer fair, not "free," trade. Trade that benefits workers everywhere, not just the bottom line of a few Fortune 500 companies.
It's good to hear Baucus soften his approach to trade. Let's see if good legislation follows. |
