Thursday, April 14, 2005

Yes, I Support CAFTA

newsobserver.com: "State textile leaders descended Wednesday on Washington, arguing that the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement would bolster -- and perhaps grow -- their faltering business.
Former U.S. Rep. Cass Ballenger also returned to testify at a House hearing on the trade agreement. Ballenger, a Republican from High Point, formerly chaired the International Relations subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
He downplayed Democratic concerns about whether labor laws in Central America are strong enough to protect workers. Ballenger said that without the agreement, even more business would go to China.
'Then we won't have to worry whether they're enforcing labor laws,' Ballenger said. 'There won't be any jobs down there.'

...Also Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee held its first CAFTA hearing, marked by vehement protests from the sugar industry about what imported sugar would do to the U.S. market.

Many members of the state's delegation are undecided on the agreement, one of President Bush's top trade priorities. They say they worry about further job losses and unintended consequences."
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I believe in free trade. I also believe in government support for workers who lose jobs due to the short-sightedness of owners who have failed to plan and manage for the future. Free trade helps everybody both in jobs and cost of products and is an economic law that is immutable.

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