DeLauro, CT Labor, Environmental, Business Coalition Rallies Against Fast Track Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership
NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) today joined Connecticut labor, environmental and business leaders to talk about the damage Fast Track Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would have on Connecticut families.
“Over the past 20 years, as the United States has signed up to deal after deal, Connecticut has lost more than one in three of its manufacturing jobs. That is almost 100,000 jobs gone,” DeLauro said. “The workers who are laid off face an uphill battle to get rehired. And even if they find new jobs, three out of five are forced to work for lower wages. On a level playing field, our businesses, and the goods and services they produce, will outcompete anyone. But the fact is that far too many trade deals, particularly over the last 20 years, have subjected American workers to competition that is neither free nor fair. These bad trade agreements have lowered their wages and sent their jobs overseas.”
John Harrity of the Connecticut State Council of Machinists said: “Connecticut cannot afford to lose any more manufacturing jobs. These 'free trade' deals have meant lost jobs and ballooning trade deficits. The Trans Pacific Partnership is more of the same. So no thanks!
"Congresswoman DeLauro has led the effort in Congress to stop this misguided trade pact. We are so thankful that we have Rosa representing the working people of Connecticut, and the nation, in this fight."
"We must ensure any forthcoming trade pact vigorously protects the environment and the public interest of all Americans. The current Fast Track process clearly does not, but, with Rep. DeLauro’s leadership, we know the changes and standards necessary to get this right", said Martin Mador, Legislative and Political Chair Co-Chair of the Sierra Club’s Connecticut Chapter.
The TPP is a proposed trade deal with eleven other nations that is unprecedented in its scope. It has been negotiated in a secretive manner, with very little input from members of Congress who work on the issues—such as the environment, worker rights, food safety and intellectual property—that are included in the deal. Fast track Authority would enable the bill to be rushed through Congress without any ability for it to be changed.
New data about our trade agreement with South Korea, the template for TPP, shows the damage such deals wreck on Connecticut’s economy. In the three years that agreement has been in effect, our trade deficit with Korea has gone up 71 percent, costing the U.S. 74,000 more jobs.
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