In the Shadow of Nafta, a Looming Debate Over the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal Kevin Granville - The New York Times
go to original May 12, 2015

Nafta, signed by President Bill Clinton in 1993, helped lead to a boom in trade among the United States, Mexico and Canada. All three countries exported more goods and services to the other two, cross-border investments grew, and the United States economy has added millions of jobs since then.

Pres. Obama highlights the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon last week. (CNN)

But of course not all those trends were attributable to Nafta, and the benefits were not equal: The United States had a small trade surplus with Mexico when the pact was signed, but that quickly became a trade deficit that has widened to more than $50 billion a year. Critics of Nafta also point out that job growth in the United States does not account for the loss of jobs to Mexico or Canada; the A.F.L.-C.I.O. contends about 700,000 United States jobs have been lost or displaced because of Nafta.

Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke on the Senate floor on February 26, 2015 about the Investor-State Dispute Settlement provision in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. (Senator Elizabeth Warren)

Nafta was a significant victory for President Clinton after a difficult congressional battle, where he won support from just enough fellow Democrats to ensure passage. The votes were 234 to 200 in the House, and 61 to 38 in the Senate.

President Obama can only hope for that kind of outcome. Most Democratic lawmakers vehemently oppose the Pacific trade deal; unions and progressive groups have lined up to block approval of a bill, known as Trade Promotion Authority, that would allow the White House to present the trade package to Congress for a straight up-or-down vote, without amendments. But President Obama has formed an unusual alliance with business groups and Republican leaders to pursue it. Oddsmakers expect a close vote, but say it has a good chance of passing.

Read the rest at The New York Times

Related: Democratic Brawl Over Pacific Trade Deal Escalates Ahead of Senate Vote (Al Jazeera)

Photo: Susan Walsh/Associated Press

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) could cost us our internet freedom, labor rights, access to affordable medicine, the safety of our food, and protections that keep our water and air clean. (ExposeTheTPP)

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