Petri Votes For CAFTA - 6th CD Democrats Response

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Gordon N. Hintz
920.279.1870

July 28, 2005

Petri Votes Against Workers, Jobs, and Constituents in Supporting CAFTA

OSHKOSH – Ignoring the negative impact on workers and farmers in his 6th Congressional District, and throughout Wisconsin, Rep. Tom Petri voted in favor of the Central American Free Trade Act (CAFTA) early Thursday morning. This vote of support comes despite the large failure of previous trade agreements to bring about the promises of new markets for businesses, workers, and farmers in Wisconsin and the rest of the United States.

“It is pretty clear there is a growing disconnect between Rep. Petri and the people he is supposed to be representing,” said Gordon Hintz, 6th CD Democratic Chair. “Who benefits under the current terms of CAFTA? Wisconsin has been devastated by the outsourcing of jobs overseas and has little in return to show for it except lower paying jobs with fewer benefits and an increased struggle for working families. This is another example of a flawed trade bill that provides few if any assurances for jobs, working conditions, and the environment.”

Since 2000, previous trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the 1994 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and Most Favored Nation status for China, have led to the loss of 92,000 manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin. The six countries in the CAFTA have a collective buying power comparable to that of New Haven, Connecticut. Due to the limited size of their economies, these countries account for barely one percent of U.S. trade, an amount that makes it unlikely to provide much benefit to U.S. workers producing exports. This includes cheese and other agriculture exports from Wisconsin. The trade deregulation model in CAFTA primarily benefits global food corporations and pharmaceutical cartels, instead of Wisconsin's family farmers and rural communities. The proposed CAFTA agreement comes when the United States is actually projected to become a net importer of agricultural products for the first time in 45 years, a disturbing trend when combined with the increasing U.S. trade deficit.

“Trade agreements should contribute to economic growth, promote development and respect democracy in other nations, and be part of comprehensive efforts to ensure economic opportunities for U.S. workers,” said Hintz. “This agreement fails to do these things. Given the challenges facing Wisconsin’s economy, it is disappointing that Rep. Petri won’t stand up for the workers, businesses, and farmers in his own District.”