OntheWilderSide

Green Party member and San Francisco Supervisor asks Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to help end US trade deals that hurt workers and environment

SAN FRANCISCO – (June 13, 2007) – One of the Green Party’s highest ranking
elected officials introduced a resolution that was adopted unanimously by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors late Tuesday opposing so-called “Fast Track” trade agreements that harm the US economy, the environment and working people – and he asked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from San Francisco, to take a stand opposing the practice.

SF Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi – who recently shepherded a measure making San
Francisco the first U.S. city to ban all but compostable plastic bags – authored the resolution urging Congress to not renew the Bush Administration’s Fast Track Trade Authority, which limits Congress’ ability to analyze them.

Mirkarimi’s resolution calls for inclusive trade negotiating, including “meaningful” consultation with state and local governments and civil society groups. He said the Fast Track Authority allows the executive branch to negotiate trade deals in secret.

Labor and community groups have opposed the Fast Track Authority because,
they charge, similar agreements such as North American Free trade Agreement (NAFTA) have hurt workers, the environment and the economy of the U.S., resulting in lost jobs, wage stagnation and high US trade deficits.

“Nancy Pelosi has the power to stop Fast Track from even coming to the floor of the House…and that’s exactly what she should do,” according to a statement released by Mirkarimi’s office, which noted that Pelosi had not taken a stand on Fast Track even though its renewal is pending.

The resolution notes “accountable governance is being undermined by international commercial and trade rules enforced by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and (NAFTA),” and in pending trade agreements with Colombia, Peru, Panama and South Korea.”

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