“I fear that this deal will put American workers in a race to the bottom” says Congresswoman Barbara Lee Concerning TPP Deal
Oakland, CA – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement on news that negotiators in Atlanta had reached a deal on the Trans-Pacific Partnership:
“America’s trade policies should be designed to create good-paying jobs and improve the standard of living for American families.
Sadly, the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal reached in Atlanta is unlikely to achieve either.
This deal was written through secretive, closed-door meetings in which lobbyists and major multinational corporations had undue influence.
As a Member of Congress, I fear that this deal will put American workers in a race to the bottom by forcing them to compete against grossly unpaid foreign workers in nations with lax or non-existent labor standards and few, if any, environmental protections.
Additionally, I have grave concerns about the offshoring of American jobs because of this deal, especially from communities of color that have suffered disproportionally from job losses caused by other bad trade deals.
Trade should benefit American families and create opportunity, not further enrich corporations or reduce global environmental and labor standards.
As this deal enters the Congressional review process, I urge my colleagues to carefully review the details and reject any trade deal that hurts American families.”
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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.