Hey, don’t just go by me on the need to pass the Colombian Free Trade Agreement. Listen to The New York Times, which said this week:
We believe that the trade pact would be good for America’s economy
and workers. Rejecting it would send a dismal message to allies the
world over that the United States is an unreliable partner and, despite
all that it preaches, does not really believe in opening markets to
trade. There is no more time to waste. If the lame-duck Congress does
not approve the trade pact this year, prospects would dim considerably
since it would lose the cover of the rule (formerly known as fast
track) that provides for an up-or-down, no-amendment vote.Because
of trade preferences granted as part of the war on drugs, most
Colombian exports already are exempt from United States tariffs. The
new agreement would benefit American companies that now have to pay
high tariffs on exports to Colombia.It also would strengthen
bonds with an important ally in a volatile corner of South America —
that also is the main source of cocaine shipped into this country and
where the United States has very few friends these days.
As for those of you who say you don’t care what the NYT says, this post isn’t aimed at you. It’s aimed at people a lot more likely to care what the Gray Lady says — Democrats in Congress (and Barack Obama), who have against all reason opposed this agreement.
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So you’re against the auto bailout, critical of the UAW and for free trade? What are you — one of those free market super-libertarian types?
Wouldn’t this open scores of new inbound shipping lanes for cheap Colombian flake?
I’m serious.
free trade does not benefit average folk. the benefit of cheap chinese products is outweighed by ever diminishing wages.
Those opposed to the CFTA are those who are defeatist. Competition is good. The same people who think we can’t compete are the folks who support unions, bail-outs, and subsidies, ie: the things that keep us from competing on a level field. All those foreign goverments that supported Obama will come to lament their decision when they see what his protectionism will mean for their countries (and ours).
GoverNments…sorry.
Those opposed to the CFTA are those who are defeatist. Competition is good. The same people who think we can’t compete are the folks who support unions, bail-outs, and subsidies, ie: the things that keep us from competing on a level field. All those foreign goverments that supported Obama will come to lament their decision when they see what his protectionism will mean for their countries (and ours).
Whatever! Protectionism will return us back to the top of the economic mountain! Just look at how great North Korea has it and tell me you don’t want that for our country. Yep, all our economy needs is a nice helping of low competition, less access to resources abroad, inefficient use of resources at home, and less access to capital.
Besides, I read that trade was unfair… to someone… somewhere… or something like that.