Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
You're not reading very carefully. CAFTA includes provisions about, e.g., labor protections as well. For whatever reason -- I'm banking on a hostility to labor protections -- it does not included the sorts of enforcement provisions that have been in previous free trade agreements. You don't seem to what to defend this on the substance, you just don't want to talk about it.
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I know there are labor provisions. What makes you think I didn't know. I just explained why the labor enforcement provisions in this bill are less stringent than in NAFTA. I could get into a substantive debate about that, but one step at a time. The whole labor thing is really a side issue that does not affect the free trade issue. First I was trying to point out that no matter what the bill says about labor, it is still a good bill because it reduces tariffs. The bill is better than the status quo - wouldn't you agree with that?
Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
This make no sense. Most businesses that have to abide by environmental and workplace protections want their competitors to have to play by the same rules. This is why market-based emissions-credit trading programs work.
Is there some reason why you want U.S. businesses to have to compete on an unfair playing field? Are you just that hostile to the idea of protecting the environment, or workplace safety?
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I am sure american businesses will be glad to hear you are on their side. I think American business knows what is good for them and you don't need to tell them what is. American business don't want labor provisions or environmental provisions becase they want free trade. They understand that the elimination of tariffs is good for everyone. Full stop. This other stuff does not really help and just prevents good deals from getting though. I saw Anna Eshoo make this ridiculous pitch at a high tech meeting to a bunch of businesses that did not have any employees outside of the US. There response was, we just want free trade. If we can sell our products over seas we can compete we just need the chance. Like I said, we can trust businesses to know what is good for them.
