Source: Public Citizen
Copyright © Public Citizen
Obama On the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and NAFTA Expansion: “One of the
first things I’ll do as President will be to call the Prime Minister of Canada
and the President of Mexico and work with them to fix NAFTA. We’ll add binding
obligations to protect the right to collective bargaining and other core labor
standards recognized by the International Labor Organization. And I will add
enforceable measures to NAFTA, the World Trade Organization (WTO), CAFTA
[Central America Free Trade Agreement] and other Free Trade Agreements (FTA’s)
currently in effect. Similarly, we should add binding environmental standards
so that companies from one country cannot gain an economic advantage by
destroying the environment. And we should amend NAFTA to make clear that fair
laws and regulations written to protect citizens in any of the three countries
cannot be overridden simply at the request of foreign investors.”1 “I voted
against CAFTA and never supported NAFTA. NAFTA’s shortcomings were evident when
signed and we must now amend the agreement to fix them. While NAFTA gave broad
rights to investors, it paid only lip service to the rights of labor and the importance
of environmental protection. Ten years later CAFTA – the Central American Free
Trade Agreement – had many of the same problems, which is why I voted against
it. We must add binding obligations to the NAFTA agreement to protect the right
to collective bargaining and other core labor standards recognized by the
International Labor Organization. Similarly, we must add binding environmental
standards so that companies from one country cannot gain an economic advantage
by destroying the environment. And we should amend NAFTA to make clear that
fair laws and regulations written to protect citizens in any of the three
countries cannot be overridden simply at the request of foreign investors.”2
Obama On the WTO:
“I do not support trade efforts that undermine important federal, state and
local policies and long-time practices that have been designed and implemented
to benefit American families. As such, before expanding GATS to other domestic
sectors, I believe we must have a thorough assessment of how such a move would
affect the existing practices and goals of U.S. federal, state and local
governments.”3
Obama On Imported
Food and Product Safety: “As president, I will make sure that any goods
coming into America meet American safety standards, and that the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the For more
information, please visit Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch at
www.tradewatch.org. other agencies that protect consumers have the tools
necessary to make sure that what we’re buying is safe.”4 “I will enforce Buy
America requirements to protect specialty crops. I also support immediate
implementation of the Country of Origin Labeling law, which will require meat
products and specialty crops including fruits and vegetables to indicate their
country of origin. I believe that American producers should be able to
distinguish their products from imported ones and that consumers deserve the
right to know where their food comes from.”5 “As president, I will also mandate
independent, third-party system of all children’s toys and other consumer
products before they enter the United States. I will dramatically increase
resources for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). I will work with
the Chinese government and other foreign governments to establish a better
system, including the possibility of stationing U.S. inspectors in overseas
factories, to monitor and act when dangerous toys, food and other products are
identified… I believe that we must have strong standards to accept imports of
food and other products. Equivalent standards do not necessarily have to be
identical to ours, but they must achieve the same level of protection for
consumers. I support ensuring that our trade agreements include protections for
consumers that are as good as U.S. safety standards.”6
Obama On Investment
Rights: “With regards to provisions in several FTAs that give foreign
investors the right to sue governments directly in foreign tribunals, I will
ensure that foreign investor rights are strictly limited and will fully exempt
any law or regulation written to protect public safety or promote the public
interest. And I will never agree to granting foreign investors any rights in
the U.S. greater than those of Americans.”7
Obama On Trade
Negotiating Authority: “I will replace Fast Track with a process that
includes criteria determining appropriate negotiating partners that includes an
analysis of labor and environmental standards as well as the state of civil
society in those countries. Finally, I will ensure that Congress plays a strong
and informed role in our international economic policy and in any future
agreements we pursue and in our efforts to amend existing agreements.”8 “I
oppose extending or renewing the current Fast Track authority as designed, but
would support a redesigned process that provided for greater transparency, more
democratic participation, and required labor and environmental provisions in
the core of agreements.”9 “I will not support extension of the existing Fast
Track process that expired. I have not and would not support renewing Trade
Promotion Authority for this President. The current Fast Track process does not
mandate that agreements include binding labor and environmental protections nor
does it give an adequate role to Congress in the selection and design of
agreements. I will work with Congressional leaders to ensure that any new TPA
authority fix these basic failings and open up the process to the American
people for their participation and scrutiny.”10 For more information, please
visit Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch at www.tradewatch.org. “The process
used to negotiate NAFTA, the text of the agreement itself having failed to
include labor and environmental protections, and the inadequate consideration
or transition assistance for those who would lose their jobs in both countries
as a result of changing production patterns, all contributed to a failure of
governance and that has indisputably hurt us.”11
Obama On Agriculture:
“I will work to maintain the American farmer’s competitiveness around the
world, and ensure the growth of family farms. My pro-American trade agenda will
ensure the interests of farmers and ranchers are not traded off in favor of
other industries. I will work to ensure that all trade agreements contain
strong and enforceable labor, environmental, and health and safety standards so
American farmers are able to compete on a level playing field. I will instruct
the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to negotiate agreements that grant
American products access commensurate to access provided foreign products to
the U.S. market, and I will examine existing U.S. trade agreements like NAFTA
and CAFTA to ensure they do not undermine U.S. farmers. 12
Obama On Labor and
Environmental Standards: “I strongly support the inclusion of meaningful,
enforceable labor and environmental standards in all trade agreements. As
president, I will work to ensure that the U.S. again leads the world in
ensuring that consumer products produced across the world are done in a manner
that supports workers, not undermines them.” 13
Obama On Global
Warming and Trade Agreements: “The U.S. must lead efforts to combat climate
change, but the only effective solution to this global problem will require the
development and enforcement of an equitable global agreement that includes the
participation of all our major trading partners. I will take all necessary and
appropriate steps to ensure that policies designed to reduce global warming
pollution are not constrained by trade agreements.”14
Obama on Health Care and Trade Agreements: “I am committed to
signing a universal health care plan into law by the end of my first term of
office. I will instruct my USTR appointee to examine any existing WTO
regulations, as well as proposed policies put forward by the outgoing Bush
Administration, to ensure that these are no existing trade regulations that
will affect implementation of this goal.”15
For more information,
please visit Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch at www.tradewatch.org.
ENDNOTES
1 Letter to the Iowa Fair Trade Campaign, December 26, 2007.
Available at http://www.citizen.org/documents/Obama_IFTC.pdf.
2 Response to a Texas Fair Trade Coalition questionnaire,
March 3, 2008. Available at http://www.citizen.org/documents/TXFairTradeCoalitionObama.pdf.
3 Response to a Pennsylvania Fair Trade Coalition
questionnaire, April 2, 2008.
4 Letter to the Iowa Fair Trade Campaign, December 26, 2007.
5 Response to a Texas Fair Trade Coalition questionnaire,
March 3, 2008.
6 Response to a Texas Fair Trade Coalition questionnaire,
March 3, 2008.
7 Response to a Pennsylvania Fair Trade Coalition
questionnaire, April 2, 2008. Available at http://www.citizen.org/documents/PA_Fair_Trade_Coalition_Obama.pdf.
8 Letter to Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition,, February 18,
2008. Available at http://www.citizen.org/documents/WFTC_Obama_Letter.pdf.
9 Response to an Oregon Fair Trade Coalition questionnaire,
May 9, 2008. Available at http://www.citizen.org/documents/ORFairTradeCoalitionObama.pdf.
10 Response to a Pennsylvania Fair Trade Coalition
questionnaire, April 2, 2008.
11 Response to an Oregon Fair Trade Coalition questionnaire,
May 9, 2008
12 Response to a Pennsylvania Fair Trade Coalition
questionnaire, April 2, 2008.
13 Response to a Texas Fair Trade Coalition questionnaire,
March 3, 2008.
14 Response to an Oregon Fair Trade Coalition questionnaire,
May 9, 2008
15 Response to a Pennsylvania Fair Trade Coalition
questionnaire, April 2, 2008.
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