Bush renewing push for Colombian free-trade deal

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON—President Bush and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe are renewing their push for Congress to approve a free-trade deal before lawmakers leave town to campaign for re-election.

Bush was meeting with Uribe on Saturday and the two leaders planned to make a joint statement after their talks. In the evening, the White House was hosting a dinner for the Colombian leader.

Congressional Democratic say they are delaying votes on trade deals involving Colombia, Panama and South Korea until the Bush administration resolves questions about the impact on U.S. jobs and other issues. But time is running out on the legislative calendar.

In recent months, the president has tried new ways to bolster his free-trade agenda. In May, a concrete mixer, crates of cauliflower, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and chunks of cheese were displayed on the White House lawn as examples of a lopsided tariff structure the U.S. has with those three countries.

A White House event in July was billed as a celebration of the day in 1810 when Colombia declared its independence from Spain, but the main message was trade.

Union leaders are not sold on the plan.



Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2008/09/20/bush_renewing_push_for_colombian_free_trade_deal/

[quartz]

1. drugs

[AlphaCentauri]

13. yep, we already have a free trade of drugs and dollars

[NOW tense]

2. It is interesting to be

watching a video about "The Shock Doctrine" and then the first news article when I go back to DU is Bush pushing for a free trade deal with Columbia.

[krkaufman]

6. "Shock Doctrine" was the first thing I thought of on seeing the headline.

Just like Bush pushing through his massive tax cuts for the wealthy on the heels of 9/11.

I'm thinking more free trade agreements are the LAST thing we need right now.

edit: p.s. Though I pray he *does* push for this, and McCain sides with him. This could be a major boon for our prospects in Ohio and Pennsylvannia. (Though I doubt that Rove will allow Bush to continue pushing it, just for that reason.)

[blue97keet]

3. This is what caused the mess

With the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression some stupid trade deal is a higher prioriy? Our out of control trade deficit is the underlying cause of this mess simply because if you consume without producing the result is a mountain of debt everywhere
and it requires exotic credit schemes just to sort of paper things over until it all unravels. Besides if you quit making real stuff then all there is to sell is "credit default swaps" or other such baloney.

[snappyturtle]

5. You got it right when you say we don't make anything anymore.

Personally, I think we should set tariffs on goods made by U.S. companies in foreign countries. If these companies feel they are so over taxed or that labor costs are too high here then for heavens sake at least get some tariffs off of it. We need to get our own house in order before we enter into anymore free trade crap.

[blue97keet]

11. It's a no-brainer

Instead of borrowing more from China or raising taxes on Americans to pay for the stupid war or the stupid Wall street bailout, raise taxes on China's toxic counterfeit exports. It is not "protectionism", it is balancing the budget.

[snappyturtle]

12. I totally agree and WELCOME to Du!

:hi:

[rg123]

4. I Just

knew in my gut he was gonna start this free trade crap again. The last thing we need is to ship more jobs overseas.

[Buenaventura]

7. amazing! that mofo still expects the world to listen to his economic advice!

[Buenaventura]

8. and who picked the cauliflower?

[SoCalDem]

9. Geez.. he's the Energizer Idiot..keeps going & going & going

:rofl:

[struggle4progress]

10. It's the perfect time to be looking out for the Colombian economy!