Briefing: Fast Track to Lost Jobs and Lower Wages: How Free-Trade Agreements Impact American Workers
Fast Track to Lost Jobs and Lower Wages: How Free-Trade Agreements Impact American Workers
Tuesday, March 3, 2015, 12:00pm to 1:00pm
2456 Rayburn House Office Building
Dear Colleague,
Trade policies have a major impact on the wages of American workers and on the vitality of American industries, such as manufacturing. With the impending introduction of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) in both the House and Senate, we will soon face a critical decision whether to give President Obama authority to “fast track” two massive trade deals through Congress, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). I invite you to join us for a discussion on the impact past trade deals have had on American jobs, wages, and trade balances and to look at future implications if the President is granted “fast track” trade authority.
The trade and investment deals currently being negotiated have numerous problems, beginning with provisions that would allow foreign investors to offshore industries to low-wage countries. This encouragement of outsourcing would lead to increased imports and trade deficits. If trade and investment deals result in growing trade deficits, job loss and displacement will result, no matter how much overall trade increases. This briefing will highlight the troubling impact free trade deals have had on American industry and rebuke misconstruing messages being used to promote TPA, TPP and TTIP.
Panelists to include:
Rob Scott, Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Research, Economic Policy Institute
Alan Tonelson, founder of RealityChek, and thirty year veteran economist focusing on trade and manufacturing, especially as they intersect within the global economy.
Sincerely,
Marcy Kaptur John Conyers, Jr.
Member of Congress Member of Congress
