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Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 17:02:25 -0700
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Subject: Congress's response to Fast Track
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From: Chantell Taylor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Subject: House favors US laws in WTO disputes
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===== Original Message from CMCGINN@CITIZEN (CHRIS MCGINN) at 9/26/97 5:55
pm
>Original Recipient(s):
>To: mail@smtp {[EMAIL PROTECTED]}
> mail@smtp {[EMAIL PROTECTED]}
> mail@smtp {[EMAIL PROTECTED]}
> TRADE@CITIZEN (Global Trade Watch)
>
> Journal of Commerce
> Monday, September 29, 1997
> House favors US laws in WTO
> disputes
>
> BY TIM SHORROCK
> JOURNAL OF COMMERCE STAFF
>
> WASHINGTON -- Opponents of President Clinton's
>free trade policies won a
> victory last week when the House voted to
>shield U.S. federal and local laws from
> being threatened by the World Trade
>Organization.
>
> The 356-64 vote occurred late Thursday on a
>spending bill amendment sponsored
> by Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and supported
>by an unusual left-right coalition of
> Democrats and Republicans.
>
> "If I was a proponent of fast track, I would
>not be happy with the vote I saw
> yesterday," Mr. Sanders said at a press
>briefing Friday. He said the support for his
> amendment shows there is strong opposition to
>President Clinton's request for new
> trade negotiating authority, which will be
>considered by Congress on a fast track
> without amendments.
>
> The Sanders amendment will provide $1 million
>to the U.S. Trade Representative's
> office to report to Congress and local and
>state governments every time a foreign
> government initiates an action in the WTO that
>could force the repeal or
> modification of U.S. laws.
>
> It reflects congressional and public anger at
>recent attempts by foreign governments
> to challenge local laws, such as a
>Massachusetts ordinance denying state contracts
> to companies that invest in the military
>dictatorship of Myanmar, formerly known as
> Burma.
>
> In addition, under the WTO, Venezuela has
>challenged provisions in the Clean Air
> Act, Mexico has objected to U.S. laws
>protecting dolphins and Malaysia and
> Indonesia have complained about U.S.
>environmental restrictions on shrimp imports.
>
> "This amendment is a right to know for the
>American people," said Rep. Bob Ney,
> R-Ohio. "It is good public policy that has
>overwhelming support."
>
> "People voting on this are saying there is no
>compelling reason to give away our
> national sovereignty in the name of global
>trade," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich,
> D-Ohio. "Last night, the WTO got a vote of
>no-confidence." Mr. Sanders said state
> and local laws were a key factor in
>influencing U.S. corporations to pull out of
> South Africa during the period of apartheid.
>"To lose that right would be absolutely
> unacceptable," he said.
>
> The amendment also requires the USTR to inform
>Congress and appropriate local
> governments when it enters new negotiations
>that could force changes in U.S. laws.
===== Comments by CTAYLOR@CITIZEN (Chantell Taylor) at 9/29/97 11:42 am
Congressmembers Sanders, Defazio, Rohrabacher, Stearns, Ney, Brown, Dellums,
Waters, Kucinich, McGovern and Traficant wrote a "dear colleague" letter
encouraging support for this amendment to the FY98 Commerce-State-Justice
Appropriations Bill (HR 2267). Following are some excerpts from that
excellant letter:
"Nestlend inside the Fast Track agreement is a little discussed agreement,
the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), which threatens the very
foundations of democratic processes in our country. If and when the MAI is
approved it will directly impact our ability, and that of our colleagues at
the state and local level, to write laws that respond to the needs and
wishes of our constituents over those of international investors here and
abroad...
Designed to remove barriers to international investment, the MAI will
effectively limit the power of any national government to restrict and
regulate foreign investment. Foreign companies will have the right and power
to sue damages when a legislative body passes a law that is considered by
the company to be in violation. The mere threat of potentially costly
lawsuits will be used to intimidate legislative bodies that are considering
passage of new regulatory laws...
Many free market advocates are eager to wield this power abroad, but in the
process they are making a pact with the Devil..."
