THE HILL: Battle over Trade Power Continues

Published By VICKI NEEDHAM | Published on 2/23/15 05:54 PM EST | Source: THE HILL Battle over Trade Power Continues Trade remained a hot topic on Monday as supporters and opponents staked out their positions with the introduction of trade promotion authority (TPA) legislation on the horizon. The White House and organized labor boiled down their conflicting arguments to whether the trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), will help or hurt U.S. workers and their wages. President Obama told the National Governors Association at the White House that “it’s a good thing when workers and businesses can compete on a level playing field, with new agreements for fair and free trade in some of the world’s fastest-growing markets.” But AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said in a nearly one-minute video message released Monday that opposing TPA, also called fast-track authority, isn’t complicated. “Let me tell you, here’s what it means … it means lost jobs and lower wages. That’s it.” The AFL-CIO’s Executive Council put on a lengthier statement on its trade stance. “The trade policies of the United States are undermining the interests of working people,” they wrote. To read the full article, please click here.