Free Republic

October 8, 2008 Why globalisation will yield to regional fiefdoms While we watch the drama of the global banking system slashing its own wrists, the real economy has just arrived at outpatients with headaches Carl Mortished: World Business Briefing While we watch the grotesque drama of the global banking system slashing its own wrists, the real economy has just arrived at outpatients with headaches. There is tummy upset in the West, while a mysterious rash has broken out in the East. In China, steelmakers are in deep trouble, the Olympics are over and the building sector, inflated by huge injections...

CAFTA, the “Central American Free Trade Agreement” is being sold as a “free trade agreement” between the US and several nations in the Central American region. What is it and what does it matter to you? CAFTA is really not about “free trade.” “Free trade” is the bait. The hook, the catch, is regional government. Free trade is really unregulated, unimpeded trade. This is not what CAFTA is about. CAFTA will increase trade regulation between the US and Central America, not decrease it. Take a look at the hundreds of pages of regulations listed in the CAFTA charter. This is...

March 14, 2005-Three former high-ranking government officials from Canada, Mexico, and the United States are calling for a North American economic and security community by 2010 to address shared security threats, challenges to competitiveness, and interest in broad-based development across the three countries. Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance John P. Manley, former Finance Minister of Mexico Pedro Aspe, and former Governor of Massachusetts and Assistant U.S. Attorney General William F. Weld make policy recommendations to articulate a long-term vision for North America in a Chairmen's Statement of the Independent Task Force on the Future of North...

A battle is heating up over the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement, which could come before Congress for a vote as early as this spring or summer. The nation's 19-state cane and beet sugar industry, including sugar cane growers and processors in Palm Beach County, say the pact threatens the 146,000 jobs created by U.S. sugar production. "We are doing everything we can to defeat CAFTA," said Carolyn Cheney, Washington representative for the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida in Belle Glade. "We believe CAFTA is another NAFTA in disguise." Meanwhile, the debate is expected to begin in earnest...

"Does accepting the European Constitution mean a surrender of member states' sovereignty? Absolutely." Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the Spanish Foreign Minister and Special Envoy to the Middle East for seven years, invited us into his home to tell us about his take on the EU Constitution Surrounded by trinkets he has gathered from all the corners of the world, he tells us why a united Europe is the only way forward The Constitutional Treaty dedicates itself to coordinating foreign affairs: what benefits does this guarantee for the EU as a whole? The post of European Minister for Foreign Affairs is revolutionary;...

Representatives to the Organization of American States (OAS) from Central America, the Dominican Republic and the United States signed an agreement Feb. 18 creating an Environmental Commission designed to complement the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA). Supporters of the trade pact say the commission will help strengthen conservation efforts and allay the fears of environmentalists in the United States and other CAFTA signatory nations. Environmental groups argue the trade pact weakens Central American countries' ability to enact new environmental legislation and defend local resources against multinational companies. The new agreement will “address some of the concerns...

The World Trade Organization, which the United States joined in 1994, has been disastrous for American sovereignty. A tax bill passed last year provides a vivid example of just how blatantly Congress is surrendering our sovereignty to quasi-governmental bodies like the WTO. For years, high-tax Europe has objected to how we tax American companies on their overseas earnings. The EU took its dispute to the WTO grievance board, which voted in favor of the Europeans. The WTO ruling was clear: Congress must change American law to comply with European rules. Make no mistake about it: WTO ministers tell Congress to...

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 16 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Congress of the United States to place a moratorium on new free trade agreements, to investigate and review current free trade agreements and policies of the United States, to investigate and review participation of the United States with international trade organizations, and to ensure that the agreements, policies, and participation are in the best interests of the citizens of Indiana and the United States. Whereas, Between January 2000 and January 2004, Indiana lost approximately 102,000 manufacturing jobs; Whereas, Manufacturing results in three to seven jobs created for each manufacturing job;...

Besides driving whole industries and millions of jobs offshore, U.S. trade agreements are threatening our national independence and freedom. The Jolly Green Giant has been a landmark around Dayton, Washington, for generations. But he does not seem so jolly these days. In fact, the fading outline of the 300-foot tall brand name icon is barely visible now on the hillside above town. This June, Dayton’s asparagus cannery, the world’s largest, will see its last season. Seneca Foods, which cans about half of the state’s $30 million asparagus crop for General Mills’ Green Giant label, is closing the Dayton plant and...

African Union: a fact file one and a half cols DURBAN - The African Union (AU), which comes into being at a summit this week in Durban that marks the demise of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) after 39 years, is loosely modelled on the European Union and embodies a similar aim of continental integration. It will be an altogether more powerful body than the 53-nation OAU and will start life under the chairmanship of South African President Thabo Mbeki. The brainchild of Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi, the AU had a protracted gestation period. Its constitution was signed at...

AU born amid rumbles of division Joern Staby in Durban THE African Union was born in Durban yesterday amid firm pledges from most African leaders to fight poverty, corruption and war by setting the continent on the path of peace, prosperity, development and good governance. Waves of applause greeted leaders and dignitaries as they arrived in Durban's Absa stadium, reaching a deafening crescendo when President Thabo Mbeki and former President Nelson Mandela entered. The colourful crowd of around 25 000 reserved its biggest cheer for Mandela, erupting into chants of "Nelson Mandela, Nelson Mandela" as Africa's elder statesman took his...