The WiscoTrader
Providing fair trade news and views you won't find in mainstream media.
February 8th, 2005
The Good: Outsourcing Listed in Top Ten State Issues
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) re****ted last month
that "Adapting to World Trade" would be one of the ten top issues for
state
government in 2005. Unfortunately, California, Massachusetts and
Minnesota
have had to recently repeal state laws that were found in violation of
U.S.
trade law. For more, visit www.ncsl.org/programs/econ/et.htm
The Bad: U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ignoring State Legislators
The US Trade Representative is taking a very aggressive stance with state
officials, including a recent request to Maine to acquiesce on state
procurement for agreements currently being negotiated with Panama and
Andean
Countries. The issue surfaced in 2003 when the USTR sent a letter to
governors asking them for carte blanche in negotiating purchasing rules
with
other countries. Twenty-eight signed on, but now Governors in seven states
have changed their minds, and many state legislators have become critical
of
trade agreements that usurp local power. Also see 10 Tips for State
Legislators from Public Citizen on how to ensure a meaningful role in the
Development of U.S. Trade Policy.
Related Story: NCSL Urges USTR to Communicate on Trade Agreements
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the voice of state
elected officials, sent a letter to USTR noting the "extraordinary amount
of
state legislation introduced across the country seeking to limit the
potential effects of offshore outsourcing". The NCSL letter is quite
confrontational compared to past correspondence, demonstrating how
moderate
and mainstream groups like NCSL are subtly ****fting positions on the trade
issue.
The Ugly: By The Numbers: Record Trade Deficit Hits US Growth
The census bureau's re****t that the international trade deficit displaced
a
record -$60.3 billion of US production of goods and services during the 30
days of November suggests further slowing in our economy. November's
increase was the result of widening deficits in televisions/VCRs (-$755
million worse in November than in October,) specialized industrial
machines
(-$735 million worse,) general industrial machinery (-$403 million worse,)
electrical machinery (-$400 million worse,) vehicles (-$347 million
worse,)
pharmaceuticals (-$329 million worse,) scientific instruments (-$300
million
worse,) all mineral fuels (-$295 million worse,) and vegetables and fruits
(-$286 million worse.)
Trade News You Can Use
Arizona Bill proposed to prohibit 'offshoring' of state contracts
The bill prohibits foreign outsourcing of state government work, and is
sponsored by three conservative republicans and several democrats. It
prohibits the state from taking actions that results in state government
jobs, contract positions or other work being ****pped outside the US.
Illinois To Review Outsourcing In State Contracts
Companies that want to do business with the state will soon have to
disclose
how much of the work would be done overseas. Under a law signed by Gov.
Rod
Blagojevich, firms bidding on state contracts have to re****t any
outsourcing
plans they have for the work. If businesses are found to be outsourcing
more
than they said they would, the state gets the power to end the contracts.
Click here for more.
Maine advisers hold first session on trade issues
The state trade policy commission was set up by the legislature to study
how
international trade policies such as NAFTA or the Central America Free
Trade
Agreement, which is to be voted on by congress in the near future, affect
the state's economy. The commission is composed of legislators,
businesspeople, economic developers and human rights activists, and more
public forums will be conducted at later dates throughout the state.
Trade Offs: State officials already lobbying against CAFTA
Governors and legislators are concerned that free-trade pacts abrogate a
state's right to make purchasing decisions based on environmental, labor
or
health and safety concerns--anything, in other words, besides the lowest
price. By Alan Greenblatt of Governing Magazine.
Wisconsin Congressional Delegation Urged to Vote NO on CAFTA
This month, the US Department of Agriculture re****ted we will start
im****ting more food than we ex****t, meaning Wisconsin family farmers will
continue to suffer from our current unfair trade agreements. After 10
years
of Wisconsin farm and factory job loss under the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA), the Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition is urging members of
the Wisconsin delegation to vote NO to CAFTA.
Wisconsin farmer says CAFTA's a Disaster
CAFTA would undermine the growing "fair trade" movement by providing
subsidies for maquila sweatshops and plantation type factory farms.
Author
John Kinsman operates a farm in Sauk County and is president of family
farm
defenders.
Mexican Farmers say NAFTA's a Disaster
Police used tear gas Monday to disperse hundreds of farmers staging a
protest outside federal government offices in Mexico City. Thousands of
angry demonstrators broke down fences, demanding changes to the North
American Free Trade Agreement and more agricultural subsidies.
Wisconsin Loses in anti-dumping protection case against Japanese rivals
Last week, federal trade officials unexpectedly voted to reject an
unfair-trade claim that Mercury Marine boat-engine subsidiary had filed
against Yamaha and other Japanese outboard motor-makers.
Canadian patients, seniors, pharmacists request meeting with Governor
Doyle
The governors of six states wrote to Prime Minister Paul Martin on January
19, 2005, requesting that the "free flow of prescription drugs" to the
United States from Canada be allowed to continue. Canada's response:
"American politicians must realize that Canada is not the cure to what
afflicts their health care system."
New Free Trade Policies Take Effect Between U.S. & Aussies
The Australian dairy, cattle and sheep industries have begun to reap the
benefits of the Australia/US free trade agreement, which was finalized in
2004. Senator Feingold and Senator Kohl both opposed the agreement.
Australian milk producers use a trade loophole on milk protein
concentrates
to undercut our domestic dairy prices.
Trade Events
February 6-13 -- Maggies' Organics tour visiting the Nueva Vida sewing
co-op
February 18-21 -- Chicago, United Students for Fair Trade national
convergence
March 1st -- President's request for Fast Track extension due to Congress
March 8th - Fond du Lac library's great decisions 10th year. Forum on
Trade.
March 4-8 -- Mexico border tour to Reynosa, Rio Bravo, Matamoros, and
Valle
Hermoso in the state of Tamaulipas. If you have any questions contact
jancel@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
or call (913) 677-2158. We are not looking for tourists,
but for activists!
March 23rd -- Clean clothes campaign greets Liana Foxvog, the national
organizer for sweatfree communities in Milwaukee. 9:30 a.m. Contact Mike
Howden at mikejudyhowden@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
1-2 -- Ann Arbor, Conscientious Consumer Conference
April 2-5 -- Principles of Community Organizing Training Session,
Billings,
Montana. Apply online at www.worc.org. Or call 406-252-9672
May 6-8 -- SweatFree Communities National Conference! Denver, Colorado.
May 2005 - GATS offers deadline
May 7th - 20th - Fairtrade Fortnight -- Next May Oxfam will be celebrating
Fairtrade with a series of great events around the country.
Kudos to the Milwaukee Clean Clothes Campaign
Having passed a City of Milwaukee sweatfree purchasing policy, the MCCC
persuaded the Milwaukee school board to unanimously adopt the same
ordinance
for public schools, requiring all school contracts be with responsible
manufacturers. School procurement offices also instituted an accounting
system for apparel purchases for tracking and analysis. For more info,
contact Mike Howden at mhowden@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Action: Say "No Sweat" for your local school board
Sweatfree Communities can help local campaigns win the best possible
sweatfree purchasing policies. The "Core Elements Of A Sweatfree
Procurement
Policy" explains core standards, compliance tools, and enforcement
mechanisms.
http://www.behindthelabel.org/campaigns/sfc/do***ents/coreelements.pdf
Their sample sweatfree purchasing policy includes "core elements":
http://www.behindthelabel.org/campaigns/sfc/do***ents/samplepolicy.pdf
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