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Rep. Brown: Congress Trades Away the Trust of America’s Working Families

Americans see 'trade' as four-letter word: J-O-B-S: Congress buckles to Bush administration's flawed trade agreements

Washington, DC -- Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said by passing free trade agreements the House has set dangerous precedents that will undermine workplace and environmental standards while draining even more jobs from the U.S.

Brown voted against the Chile and Singapore trade agreements to send a strong message that these agreements represent a step backwards in the U.S. trade policy. It is the wrong time to put U.S. trade policy on a path toward more job losses and fewer standards to protect workers and the environment, reversing progress made in 2001 with the U.S. Jordan free trade agreement.

Although the trade agreements passed, Brown said the margins on both agreements were much closer than most observers had predicted and reflected lawmakers' reluctance to pass agreements that are unpopular with a majority of Americans.

"Where I come from, trade is a four-letter word: J-O-B-S. Unfortunately, this Congress and this President do not spell very well. The Singapore and Chile Free Trade Agreements are about more lost jobs. American workers understand that hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost in the 10 years since NAFTA was signed. Then China was given Permanent Normal Trade Relations. Once again, American workers were promised that trade would lead to more jobs. American workers know this is not true," said Brown, whose Northeast Ohio district includes the manufacturing hubs of Akron and Lorain.

Brown said the trade agreements should have been a slam dunk for the Bush administration, but they chose to lower standards below the Jordan Free Trade Agreement, which included stronger environmental protection and labor standards.

"The Chile and Singapore agreements failed to address important labor and environmental objectives outlined in the Fast Track legislation, and contained in the Jordan trade agreement. We should be moving forward from the Jordan agreement, not turning back the clock," Brown said.

Brown, a senior member of both the House Energy and Commerce and International Relations Committees, is a national leader in the effort to promote global fair trade and protect U.S. jobs. He is a staunch opponent of NAFTA and played a principal role in two successful efforts in the House to defeat Fast Track negotiating authority. Brown is also the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee.