Senator Wyden (D-OR) has come out today with a statement to constituents that appears to be an attempt to negotiate a compromise on the issue now before Congress - namely, Fast Track or TPA (Trade Promotion Authority) renewal. The short of it is that Wyden's response on proposed TPA renewal is neither YES nor No - it's MAYBE. The long of it is all about the details.
Wyden appears to be particularly proud of provisions for transparency and what Wyden calls "the Open Internet" (equals 'net neutrality'?) in the international aspects of the internet. Wyden: “At the core of this agreement is a new mandate for the Open Internet, free speech and digital commerce, by ensuring information can flow freely across national borders over the Internet.”
From Wyden's press release:
Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden today introduced a bipartisan bill to send the message that our country should only accept trade deals that will boost middle-class U.S. families and advance Oregon values.
The bicameral bill includes unprecedented new provisions to improve transparency, boost Congressional oversight and require stronger enforcement for existing trade agreements, U.S. trade laws, any new trade agreement.
The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act, introduced by Wyden, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., creates a process for negotiating trade deals, by instructing the administration to follow congressional priorities on trade. In exchange, Congress agrees to vote on trade agreements that live up to TPA conditions in a timely manner.
What was it Ross Perot said about this stuff? Oh yeah: "The Devil is in the details!" For example, many will question whether what we will end up with won't be international net neutrality, but the demise of net neutrality in our own country - since there are reportedly many provisions of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement that impact our own laws more than they impact international trade rules.
THE DETAILS AS PROMISED
(From Wyden's press release)
To ensure trade works for everyone, the bill includes unprecedented new requirements to increase trade transparency:
Future trade deals, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, must be public for 60 days before the president signs them, and send them to Congress.
Every member of Congress is required by law to have access to trade negotiations.
The administration must publish regular summaries of its proposals in trade negotiations.
A new process to put the brakes on bad trade deals that do not meet the conditions of TPA.
The bill also makes major strides toward raising the bar for labor, environment and human rights:
Trading partners must adopt and maintain core international labor and environmental standards, with trade sanctions if they do not comply
Promoting human rights and democratic societies, for the first time ever, are a formal negotiating objective in trade deals,
Promoting free speech and commerce online, by calling for the free flow of digital information across national borders.
The package creates new tools to enforce trade deals and hold trading partners accountable for living up to agreements:
Includes Sen. Wyden’s ENFORCE Act, enabling swift action to ensure foreign trade cheats are stopped before U.S. jobs are lost.
Establishes new directives to require the Administration to focus on fighting foreign trade barriers that have the most impact on U.S. jobs and growth, with specific timetables and Congressional consultations to ensure that it follows through on enforcement priorities.
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Wyden is trying to change the language: rather than 'fast' track or 'slow track', he is proposing 'the right track' - “Opening foreign markets, where most of the world’s consumers reside, is critical to creating new opportunities for middle-class American jobs in Oregon and nationwide. This bill, together with strong new enforcement tools, Trade Adjustment Assistance and the Health Coverage Tax Credit, sets our country and our state on the right track to craft trade policies that work for more people,”
Check out Wyden's website for extensive supportive commentary from Oregon business leaders as to the hoped-for benefits that may flow from the TPP when developed under this new approach to trade deals:
http://www.wyden.senate.gov/...