State Sovereignty and Trade Agreements: The Facts

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative ^ | 14. April 2005 | press release (.pdf file)

[1rudeboy]

State Sovereignty and Trade Agreements: The Facts

Trade supports one-quarter of U.S. GDP and over 12 million jobs in the United States, including 1 in 5 manufacturing jobs. Trade agreements level the playing field and encourage foreign governments to adopt the sorts of open and transparent rulemaking procedures, and non-discriminatory laws and regulations, that are the hallmark of due process in the United States and are in place at all levels of government in the United States. At the same time, in every agreement we negotiate the United States remains very sensitive to, and protective of, our federal system of shared power. These are the facts:

Trade agreements fully preserve a state’s right to regulate.

• Nothing in the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), or other Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) prevents the United States or any state and local government from enacting, modifying, or fully enforcing domestic laws protecting consumers, health, safety, or the environment.
• The agreements ensure that state and local agencies continue to have an absolute right to set environmental, health, and safety standards at the levels they consider appropriate.
• The agreements simply provide that the legitimate standards that governments impose must be non-discriminatory and transparent, and not be used as disguised barriers to trade.

Trade agreements do not automatically preempt or invalidate state and local laws.

• WTO, NAFTA and other trade agreements do not in any way preempt or invalidate federal, state, or local laws that may be inconsistent with those agreements. This is because, while the United States has committed itself to adhere to the rules set out in the WTO and the NAFTA agreements, those rules do not automatically override any domestic laws.

Trade panels cannot overturn or change U.S federal, state or local laws.

• WTO, NAFTA (including NAFTA Chapter 11 investor-state) and FTA dispute settlement panels have no authority to change U.S. law or to require the United States or any state or local government to change its laws or decisions.
• Only the federal or state governments can change a federal or state law.
• If, ultimately, the United States cannot reach an agreed settlement with the country that brings a dispute settlement claim, that country may withdraw trade benefits of equivalent effect. However, under trade agreement rules, the United States retains complete sovereignty in its decision of how to respond to any panel decision against it.

[1rudeboy]

Time to give the hornet's nest a good whack.

[stainlessbanner]

bttt

[1rudeboy]

Looks like the OAS has its work cut-out for itself.

[ex-snook]

Facts? Where are the good paying jobs in this country that free-trade shills promised would replace the low-paying jobs traded away?

Facts? Do some reporting. Everyone check your local newspaper. Tell us what are the big job needs are in your area? Mine are automotive and truck driving.

[1rudeboy]

You have to resort to spamming threads? Why?

[Navydog]

Just a few comments made over the past 50 years....

"We will have a world government whether you like it or not. The only question is whether that government will be achieved by conquest or consent." Paul Warburg: February 17, 1950, as he testified before the US Senate.

1987 -- The Secret Constitution and the Need for Constitutional Change is sponsored in part by the Rockefeller Foundation. Some thoughts of author Arthur S. Miller are:

"...a pervasive system of thought control exists in the United States...the citizenry is indoctrinated by employment of the mass media and the system of public education...people are told what to think about...the old order is crumbling... Nationalism should be seen as a dangerous social disease...A new vision is required to plan and manage the future, a global vision that will transcend national boundaries and eliminate the poison of nationalistic solutions...a new Constitution is necessary."

September 29, 1992 -- At a town hall meeting in Los Angeles, Trilateralist and former CFR president Winston Lord delivers a speech titled Changing Our Ways: America and the New World, in which he remarks:

"To a certain extent, we are going to have to yield some of our sovereignty, which will be controversial at home... [Under] the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)... some Americans are going to be hurt as low-wage jobs are taken away."

Lord became an Assistant Secretary of State in the Clinton administration.

[1rudeboy]

Do you agree with these leftists, or not?

[Navydog]

"Do you agree with these leftists, or not?"

If I agreed with them, I would not be here. Obviously you are not familiar with me or anything I have posted in the past.

[1rudeboy]

No I'm not. Don't flatter yourself. So you collect leftist quotes?

[Dog Gone]

The truth about free trade isn't appreciated by a certain element here at this forum. Thanks for the post.

[LowCountryJoe]

Is trade a hindrance to capitalism or a necessary ingredient to capitalism? Do you think that capitalism is an ideal economic system?

[Navydog]

"Is trade a hindrance to capitalism or a necessary ingredient to capitalism? Do you think that capitalism is an ideal economic system?"

I believe trade is essential for Capitalism to thrive. However, I do not believe Capitalism to be an ideal economic system. To my knowledge....there is no economic system that is flawless.