StructureSpot

There is sudden movement to ram through one sided so-called “free trade” deals with Korea, Colombia, and Panama.

Working in Asia really opened my eyes to the truth about these deals. I saw firsthand how in spite of all the talk of free trade, there is really no such thing as goods only flow to the USA, plus how difficult it is for us to export to Asian nations. It is no surprise they have other priorities, such as taking care of their own. They know that manufacturing is vital to economic growth and prosperity.  Additionally, they have complex legal and cultural barriers beyond just direct tariffs. For example, Korea protects its automotive industry not so much through direct tariffs that even our politicians could comprehend, but through more subtle barriers – the Korean IRS very, very often audits the taxes of those Koreans that dare to buy American or other foreign cars.

That is why the Korean Free Trade deal is such a fiasco for the USA. It deals with direct tariffs, while completely ignoring the deeper factors that keep our products out.  TheEconomic Policy Institute estimates we will actually have a net loss 160,000 jobs in the USA if this goes through. Plus, the jobs lost would be good manufacturing jobs, while the jobs gained here would be lower paying agricultural harvesting, etc. meaning wages would drop there too.

I was a Finance Executive at my former company and ran Market Research for a stint too, so I know numbers. The fact is I have seen zero valid evidence in the numbers that ANY of the so-called free trade deals actually cause a net gain of jobs or wages here in our nation. The numbers they cite can only be called propaganda. There is obvious evidence that a small number of USA people and companies gain, although many more of our folks lose. That means the net change is a net loss to our people as a whole!

One would think that with the economy down, those that benefit from our nation’s decay would give it a rest, and let these free trade deals wait, but The Wall Street Journal reports that our largest national retailer (a Wal-Mart minion is in fact quoted in the article —http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304066504576349832361669832.html) sent their lobbyists to visit all 100 senators last week in an effort to ram through the so-called “free trade” agreements with Korea, Panama, and Columbia.

The large chain stores give huge donations to the national level of the US Chamber of Congress. In spite of many local Chamber of Congress’s being all about “Made in USA”, the national level is sadly point man for this lobbying blitz.

A rather desperate sounding national level Chamber executive quoted in the WSJ:  “’We’re fighting like hell because if the vote doesn’t happen by the recess, we risk it not happening in the fall,’ said Christopher Wenk, senior director for international policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.”

Now the few that benefit from our nation’s decay are rallying the best lobbyist mercenary’s money can buy and with truckloads of blood money are coming hard to get these three trade deals passed before Congress recesses in August. If we can delay them until then, we win for this year. No politician wants this to see the light of day just before the election. Isn’t that reason enough to stand against it?

Please stand with me and take just a few minutes to lobby your senators.  Together, with your help and many other good folks, let’s do all we can to stop these free trade deals.

It is very easy to contact your senator, simply click here: http://senate.gov/

There is a menu at the top right to select your state, look for the contact button on the senator’s page.  They will know exactly what you mean when you mention stopping the Korean/Columbia/Panama free trade deals.

Sometimes we need to take a stand…

Sincerely,

Todd

Todd Lipscomb

Founder of www.MadeinUSAForever.com

Author of “Re-Made in The USA”

(http://madeinusaforever.com/reinushowwec.html)

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