[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21725]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             THE U.S.-OMAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (H.R. 5684)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the 
U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement, which perpetuates the flawed CAFTA 
model by sacrificing worker rights and environmental standards for the 
sake of greater profits for the elite.
  American policies should promote global trade that is both fair and 
free. Trade agreements that meet this standard improve the quality of 
life for American families by expanding export markets for our products 
while also providing economic opportunity, human dignity and political 
stability for workers around the world.
  Unfortunately, the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement is another step 
towards a lowest-common-denominator global economy where sinking labor 
and environmental standards undermine American competitiveness and 
global security. The intellectual property provisions of the agreement 
will hinder the spread of lower priced generic drugs, which could 
improve public health and stabilize populations in Oman. The 
agreement's only enforceable labor protection is a requirement that 
Oman enforce its own labor laws, even though the country's laws fail to 
comply with basic international labor standards in ten specific areas. 
Rather than requiring improvements in Oman's labor law, H.R. 5684, 
accepts unenforceable promises from Oman's government. Even the most 
basic labor safeguards in this agreement have been crippled: the Bush 
Administration subverted the will of Congress and stripped out a 
provision inserted by the Senate Finance Committee stipulating that 
goods made in Oman with forced labor may not benefit from the trade 
agreement.
  Global trade is the keystone of America's economic success. Expanding 
trade promotes economic growth in our country and the quest for higher 
living standards and opportunity abroad. And, as with foreign policy, 
America's trade policy is an expression of our values and a tool to 
advance our global vision. Unfortunately, this Oman Free Trade 
Agreement contradicts America's much-touted commitment to foster global 
democracy and freedom. If America is to find success in our efforts to 
spread democracy, serious commitments to the conditions that support 
democracy: economic stability, environmental sustainability and human 
dignity. To secure economic prosperity at home and human rights around 
the world, we in Congress do better than H.R. 5684.

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