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Steve Erlanger expended some ink on the trade issue when writing about Obama's 200,000 person crowd in Germany.
First, here is the single paragraph from Obama's Berlin speech on trade:
This is the moment when we must build on the wealth that open markets have created, and share its benefits more equitably. Trade has been a cornerstone of our growth and global development. But we will not be able to sustain this growth if it favors the few, and not the many. Together, we must forge trade that truly rewards the work that creates wealth, with meaningful protections for our people and our planet. This is the moment for trade that is free and fair for all.
Really pretty meek. But it was not a trade speech, so I am a bit surprised the topic was even mentioned.
Europe's wacko free traders... yes they have them too... have been upset by the trade debate in the American presidential election.
Europe’s trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, last month urged both Mr. Obama and his Republican rival, Senator John McCain, to reject “the false comforts of populism” and abandon “the protectionist and antitrade rhetoric” that dominated the primaries. ... “A crisis of American confidence in globalization,” Mr. Mandelson said, “could knock it off course.”
Oh my. That would be bad. Ya'know... to knock this version of globalization off course would be bad. Trade would stop. Halt. Cease to exist. Smoot Hawley Tariff Acts would be replicated across the world. Really high fences would be built around every country in the world. We would be unable to communicate with each other. Gracious me.
There is a powerful cadre of folks that have built their careers around trade agreements. To question those agreements is to question their life's work. They take it personally. And respond furiously.
The pursuit of smart trade, with balance, is becoming more achievable. Obama is not committed to fundamental reform, and McCain fully opposes reform. One wing of the Democratic Party is pro-wacko free trade and one wing is pro-smart trade. A smaller portion of Republican Congressmen are pro-smart trade, and overwhelmed by those the push the outdated and destructive bilateral agreements.
Voters are clear, regardless of party. Voters know that the current trade policy has failed. It has put folks out of work, provided record deficits, hampered our ability to recover from this recession, and simply has not given us the economy we were promised.
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