[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 5, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H1599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WE CANNOT AFFORD BAD TRADE DEALS

  (Mr. ELLISON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, trade of course can be good for Americans 
and our economy, but we cannot afford bad trade deals. Bad trade deals 
exacerbate inequality. It makes the ladder of opportunity harder to 
climb for working people.
  Twenty years ago, Washington passed NAFTA, and the results have been 
devastating to our economy for working people. Over 850,000 U.S. jobs 
left for Mexico, and our trade deficit skyrocketed from $100 billion to 
$700 billion. Before fast track authority, the U.S. had a trade 
surplus.
  Fast track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership are not right for the 
American people. We must have more transparency. We must have more 
disclosure. We must have good trade deals that reflect the fact that 
the United States workers produce great services and products.
  The trade deals need to reflect that, not have a race to the bottom 
for which we go to the cheapest markets around the world to compete 
with good American workers who make fair pay. It is not the right 
thing. I am for trade, but not bad trade agreements that are conducted 
in secret.

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