NAFTA talks are being gamed by lobbyists

If those poor, delusional Trump supporters in the Rust Belt thought they were going to get a break with Trump's renegotiation of NAFTA, they are in for a nasty surprise.

While officials from the U.S., Canada and Mexico try to hammer out a new North American Free Trade Agreement, lobbyists in Washington are using the deal’s rewrite to advance a broad legislative agenda making it easier for U.S. companies to build factories, move cargo and export coal.

The strategy exploits the fast-track authority that allows presidents to negotiate big trade deals without having to worry about Congress tinkering around the edges. Under that authority, legislation to implement a trade deal can pass the House and Senate on a simple majority vote, without amendments or filibusters.

That means a Nafta bill could lead to the enactment of what is essentially a big business wishlist of regulatory reforms and other policies too ambitious or politically sensitive to clear Congress in a piecemeal fashion.

As if NAFTA wasn't enough of a corporate wishlist as it is.
So when they use terms like "modernize" and "competitiveness" you know it means "labor needs to bend over, and we aren't using lube this time".

Potential changes also could include setting ceilings on the cost of new regulations and making additional spectrum available for commercial use....
Critics say it uses America’s trade deficit as an excuse to short-circuit environmental analysis required under federal law, at a time when climate change, shrinking biodiversity and other issues demand thorough analysis...
It’s been a tricky process, given how brazen the deal is. Some companies and business groups refused to publicly join, over fear of a public backlash.

You know it's bad when multinational corporations refuse to participate in a deregulatory giveaway because it is so unethical.
It's just too bad that Republican and Democratic voters will never know how and why they are being screwed because this will never be reported on the MSM.

Meanwhile, Trump is backtracking on the TPP as well.

The United States will consider re-entry to the Trans Pacific Partnership once Washington accomplishes its goals on other trading relationships, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said while on an official visit to Chile on Wednesday.
“Our focus at the moment, is obviously we’re working on renegotiation of NAFTA, we’re very focused on our trading relationship with China, which is way too much in one direction. Our markets are open to them, their markets are not open to us, on the same basis,” Mnuchin said at a news conference.

If the NAFTA negotiations succeed then TPP is next.
Mnuchin already said that he had "begun to have very high-level conversations" on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

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Meteor Man's picture

Wow! More liberal than Soros and spending big time:

His recent political contributions eclipse even those of liberal billionaire George Soros. He plans to spend $30 million on the 2018 midterms alone, and his NextGen America super PAC has been a juggernaut for left-leaning candidates in recent years.

Political Megadonor For The People

$30 million? That's a Megadonor?

How about tackling the real problem Tom?

It's just too bad that Republican and Democratic voters will never know how and why they are being screwed because this will never be reported on the MSM.

If Tom Steyer wants to really help how about buying The NY Times or WaPo so we can cut through this militaristic propaganda?

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"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn

@Meteor Man

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Meteor Man's picture

@dkmich
Trump voters will never learn about Trump's betrayal on jobs or trade except through personal experience, not from the media. Then Fox News will blame it on Obama.

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"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn

The Aspie Corner's picture

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Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.