Bush plans relentless push for trade deals: aide

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Bush plans relentless push for trade deals: aide
Wed Jan 9, 2008 2:40pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House is planning a major campaign to persuade a reluctant Congress to approve free trade deals with Colombia, South Korea and Panama this year, a senior Commerce Department official said on Wednesday.

But the Bush administration is unlikely to accept legislation imposing higher duties on Chinese imports as a tradeoff for those pacts, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Chris Padilla said in an interview.

"The administration is going to be relentless in pushing its free and fair trade agenda," beginning with the Colombia agreement, he said.
(snip)

Democrats want Colombia to make more progress in reducing violence against trade unionists and on other concerns before Congress votes on the pact. Many also believe the Korea agreement will cost jobs in the U.S. auto sector.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSWAT00867520080109

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Relentless.

[DS1]

1. He'll forget about it after a nap and a grilled cheese sandwich

maybe he'll get back to planning his mission to Mars

[ananda]

2. No he won't forget.

He wants those deals in the worst way..

At least his corporate masters/cronies do.

Of course, Dems will cave.. and those countries
and their people will be ruined.. except for the
rich.

[DS1]

4. I know

but it was a nice thought while it lasted :)

[Kolesar]

7. Really? Which trade deals have the Dems "caved" on?

[Judi Lynn]

8. Peru, recently. Hope they will stay the course on Colombia. n/t

[pattmarty]

3. AND the Democrats should not pass ANY of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pleah]

5. Congress thinks it will cost more American jobs?! Ya think? Wake up congress.

[Kolesar]

6. These a-holes are now calling their program a "fair trade" deal

The populists had busted them on the free trade language and countered it with "fair trade". Now the gops are stealing our language again like they did with "clear skies" and "healthy forests".

I don't think the Dems will lose anything by running against lame duck George's plans for offshoring our jobs.

[Hulk]

9. Every congressman and sympathetic media outlet needs to rename the bill as: MORE US JOBS ABROAD

Just a little simple use of the media could do SO MUCH. This is apparent after listening to Thom Hartman's ad on Air America for his book on the language that the repug machine uses to screw over the public. They name things like "healthy forest act" to refer to the raping of the national forests, etc, etc, etc.

Call a spade a spade. It seems the neocons and repug corporates have "plans" to get things done...elect dumbest of dumb people as presidents, pass bills that take the food out of the mouth of their own citizens; but the Democrats aren't organized on this at all...YET. Didn't we learn anything from the swiftboaters?

This is frustrating!

[OhioChick]

10. Congress Had Better Grow a Spine

and stand up to this snake.....the people are watching.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Canadians studying the morality of this FTA with Colombia, as well:

In the rush to free trade with Colombia, human rights must not be overlooked
KENNETH MILLS

Special to Globe and Mail Update

January 10, 2008 at 12:00 AM EST

~snip~
Colombia is home to the most brutal and protracted theatre of war in the Americas — the sorry predicament that has long fuelled an illegal drug industry and provided cover for assassinations and human rights violations. Mr. Uribe and the best of his allies in government need to make more progress on these fronts, and they might actually thank a prospective trade partner such as Canada for linking opportunities for peace and greater economic prosperity to improvement on these difficult fronts.

In the immediate wake of Mr. Harper's visit, Bogota-based political scientists Sandra Borda and Maria Paz Berger set out several reasons why Canada's contributions in addressing violence, death lists and the ongoing war in this South American nation of 46.8-million people are crucial and might reasonably be awaited: Canada's historic regard for the observance of human rights; an established reputation for multilateral diplomacy based on respect for open dialogue and international institutions; and demonstrated leadership in the resolution of internal conflicts such as those that engulfed Central America in the 1980s. Even closer to their home, Ms. Borda and Ms. Paz Berger noted Canada's key participation in two rounds of negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in the Group of 24 developing countries, and in the movement to eradicate land mines in Colombia as elsewhere.

For these and other historic reasons, Canada is respected and able to punch far above her apparent international weight in terms of political and moral influence.

The social justice Canadians expect at home is intimately tied to our vision and contributions abroad. At this moment, Canada can do more to realize a potential for creative engagement in Colombia, and across the Americas and wider world, and in ways that will ultimately bolster the kinds of trust, respect and commercial relationships Prime Minister Harper and President Uribe seek.

If the North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, Mexico and the United States is a kind of blueprint for other bi- and multilateral relationships linking Canada with countries in the Caribbean and Latin American regions, then we must ask to just what a NAFTA amounts to if the wealthier, northerly partners detach economic concerns from human rights and a wider vision.

Colombian observers, like other Latin Americans, are informed and wise neighbours when they remind Canadians to stand for something more.

More:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080109.wcomment0110/BNStory/International/home