The Hysteria being whipped up paints Obama as serving Republican interests and being against the interests of labor, environmentalists and those of us who are primarily concerned about climate change.
There is no need to get nervous. Obama, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are all on the same page regarding what needs to be in the TPP to safeguard our labor and environmental concerns.
What Obama is saying Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are wrong about is how the TPP trade agreements will treat labor and the environment. Obama is not a Republican. As a Democrat he has the back of both labor and environmental concerns.
WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers and the White House have agreed to subject any trade deal negotiated by President Obama to a months long review by Congress and the public, a concession aimed at winning the support of Democrats who view trade agreements as a threat to American workers.
That provision, expected to be formally approved Wednesday by the Senate Finance Committee, would give Mr. Obama the “fast-track” authority he has been seeking to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership with a dozen Pacific Rim nations, potentially expanding markets for American companies. But the compromise will almost certainly push a major trade accord with Asia into the presidential election season, a politically charged prospect that trade supporters had hoped to avoid.
Take a moment and review NAFTA which is the source of their concern.
In the past we have a history of trade agreements written by Republicans to benefit US corporations giving them preference in things like US steels desire to get more contracts from Trans Canada for pipe.
The pipe was to be used both for the "drill baby drill" obsession and the Keystone pipeline and to give GM an opportunity to avoid bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy for GM which was threatening for a long time before the bailout was to be staved off by relocating assembly from Framingham, MA to Mexico where they hoped to avoid both environmental regulations and union labor contracts.
The promise at the time was that the GM facilities both in MA and MI would be able to stay open, so existing jobs would be saved at the cost of new jobs.
Because US steel promised the steelworkers more jobs if they got the contracts the unions were on board with this.
Because the unions are the heart and soul of the labor interests of the Democratic party the Democrats came on board.
NAFTA as negotiated and submitted by Reagan and Bush for ratification provided pipe contracts and jobs for Canadians and Mexicans which while not exactly shipping them overseas did hurt US labor.
A year after its submission for ratification by Bush, Clinton submitted supplementary agreements to protect labor and the environment and thus somehow gets credit for the loss of jobs when under NAFTA Trans Canada gave jobs building Keystone's pipelines in America to Canadians and GM gave jobs in its new assembly plants in Mexico to Mexicans.
Obama is saying the TPP negotiators have learned from previous trade agreements that the environment and labor wages and benefits in the US have to be protected by preferential treatment in the agreement. Goldman Sachs Rahm Emanuel will not be involved in safeguarding wallstreet in the negotiations. US corporations may indeed be sued if they export jobs to Asia to avoid environmental regulations and unions negotiated benefits.
Here are a few of the ways the Trans-Pacific Partnership will unlock opportunity for you
The TPP will support Made-in-America exports
The TPP will make it easier to sell Made-in-America goods and services exports to some of the most dynamic and fastest growing markets in the world, and support homegrown jobs and economic growth.
The TPP will enforce fundamental labor rights
The TPP will level the playing field for American workers and businesses by building strong and enforceable labor standards.
The TPP will promote strong environmental protection
Environmental protection is a core American value. Through the TPP, the United States is negotiating for robust environment standards and commitments from member countries, and addressing some of the region’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The TPP will help American small businesses benefit from trade
American small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy, and have accounted for nearly two thirds of new private sector jobs in recent decades. The TPP will improve transparency and regulations to help U.S. companies engage in and benefit from increased trade in the Asia Pacific.
Unlocking Opportunity for America
The Trans-Pacific Partnership will grow trade with one of the world’s fastest growing regions, and share American values and commitment to improve labor practices and elevate environmental standards around the world.
The TPP will also have great benefits at home, for you and your community. Explore the below map to learn how the Trans-Pacific Partnership will benefit your state and industry, and help Made-in-America businesses grow and support local jobs through trade with the Asia Pacific Region.