Congresswoman Lee: “We cannot allow another bad trade deal to jeopardize more jobs”
Washington, DC – As Congress begins consideration of Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined her colleagues at a press conference to reaffirm her opposition to Fast Track.
“We owe the American people a trade deal that creates American jobs, not one that gambles with families’ livelihoods,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Fast Track only serves to push a secret agreement through Congress that endangers American jobs, human rights and our food.”
Past trade deals have disproportionately impacted communities of color. When China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, 35 percent of American jobs lost, totaling nearly 1 million jobs, came from communities of color. When those workers found new jobs, they saw their wages fall by an average of nearly thirty percent. These lost wages from communities of color total $10.1 billion annually. More information is available on the AFL-CIO’s website.
“I will not rubber stamp yet another trade deal that outsources good-paying American jobs, especially from communities of color,” added Congresswoman Lee. “I support trade – but it must be fair, open and transparent. Fast Track for the Trans-Pacific Partnership is not fair, open or transparent.”
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.