Cynthia McKinney on Free Trade Green Party nominee for President (Former Rep., D, GA-4)

No Fast Track; no MFN for China; no WTO; no CAFTA

A: In 1998, I voted no on giving the Clinton Administration ‘Fast Track’ authority for trade agreements. In 1999, I voted to oppose Most Favored Nation status for China; and to condition trade with China on an improved human rights record. In 2000, I voted yes to support U.S. withdrawal from the World Trade Organization. In 2005, I voted in opposition to implementing Central America Free Trade Agreement.

Repeal NAFTA & CAFTA to address immigration problems

A: Well, first of all, I would repeal NAFTA and CAFTA. Because we have this issue of immigration because we have unfair practices in our economic policy, military policy, and foreign policy to those parts of the world from which these people are coming. I would want first to change economic policy, military policy, and foreign policy to respect human rights, to respect the environment and labor, and have a race to the top instead of a race to the bottom.

Put a stop to these “free trade” agreements, and quickly

Voted NO on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade.

• Progressively eliminate customs duties on all originating goods traded among the participating nations
• Preserve U.S. duties on imports of sugar goods over a certain quota
• Remove duties on textile and apparel goods traded among participating nations
• Prohibit export subsidies for agricultural goods traded among participating nations
• Provide for cooperation among participating nations on customs laws and import licensing procedures
• Encourage each participating nation to adopt and enforce laws ensuring high levels of sanitation and environmental protection
• Recommend that each participating nation uphold the International Labor Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
• Urge each participating nation to obey various international agreements regarding intellectual property rights

Voted YES on withdrawing from the WTO.

Voted NO on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements.

No MFN for China; condition trade on human rights.

The Progressive Caucus opposes awarding China permanent Most Favored Nation trading status at this time. We believe that it would be a serious setback for the protection and expansion of worker rights, human rights and religious rights. We also believe it will harm the US economy. We favor continuing to review on an annual basis China’s trading status, and we believe it is both legal and consistent with US WTO obligations to do so. The Progressive Caucus believes that trade relations with the US should be conditioned on the protection of worker rights, human rights and religious rights. If Congress gives China permanent MFN status, the US will lose the best leverage we have to influence China to enact those rights and protections. At the current time, the US buys about 40% of China’s exports, making it a consumer with a lot of potential clout. So long as the US annually continues to review China’s trade status, we have the ability to debate achievement of basic worker and human rights and to condition access to the US market on the achievement of gains in worker and human rights, if necessary. But once China is given permanent MFN, it permanently receives unconditional access to the US market and we lose that leverage. China will be free to attract multinational capital on the promise of super low wages, unsafe workplace conditions and prison labor and permanent access to the US market.

Furthermore, giving China permanent MFN will be harmful to the US economy, since the record trade deficit with China (and attendant problems such as loss of US jobs, and lower average wages in the US) will worsen. For 1999, the trade deficit is likely to be nearly $70 billion. Once China is awarded permanent MFN and WTO membership, the trade deficit will worsen.