US Chamber Challenges House Representative Mike Michaud
John Murphy, Vice President of International Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, posted an article on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's journal web site Friday, Oct. 2, writing of the dire economic consequences of U.S. protectionism.
Midway, he singled-out Mike Michaud by name:
"Labor's recent endorsement of the so-called TRADE Act of Congressman Mike Michaud is also telling. The act would generate additional reporting requirements relating to international trade agreements on top of those that already exist. It would call into question America's existing trade agreements with countries around the globe, even though those agreements provide guaranteed access to markets that purchase more than 40% of U.S. exports. It lays out sweeping objectives for future trade agreements, but never contemplates giving President Obama the authority Congress has granted every president since FDR to actually negotiate such agreements. It might as well be called the "STOP TRADE" Act.
"Several questions arise: Do we want to open foreign markets to U.S. workers? Do we have confidence in the ability of American workers to compete abroad? Are we prepared to act rather than see American workers put at a disadvantage by the spreading network of FTAs being negotiated by our competitors?
"Labor's answer can be summarized, in practice, in three words: no, no, and no."
Midway, he singled-out Mike Michaud by name:
"Labor's recent endorsement of the so-called TRADE Act of Congressman Mike Michaud is also telling. The act would generate additional reporting requirements relating to international trade agreements on top of those that already exist. It would call into question America's existing trade agreements with countries around the globe, even though those agreements provide guaranteed access to markets that purchase more than 40% of U.S. exports. It lays out sweeping objectives for future trade agreements, but never contemplates giving President Obama the authority Congress has granted every president since FDR to actually negotiate such agreements. It might as well be called the "STOP TRADE" Act.
"Several questions arise: Do we want to open foreign markets to U.S. workers? Do we have confidence in the ability of American workers to compete abroad? Are we prepared to act rather than see American workers put at a disadvantage by the spreading network of FTAs being negotiated by our competitors?
"Labor's answer can be summarized, in practice, in three words: no, no, and no."
FMI: www.chamberpost.com
