Call me naive, and I know you will, but trade agreements should be 2 pages long.  Multilateral lowering of tariffs and subsidies.  Rules of origin to prevent fraudulent bootstrapping of goods from non-signatory countries into the  the relationship.  We don't the hundreds of other pages giving foreign corporations the right to strike down our laws, or using nice words like "harmonization" to prevent us from prohibiting products that kill and injure people.

The Dems began looking for tougher labor and environmental standards back when the trade deficit was a fraction of what it was today.  Now, tougher standards are a pimple on the elephant.  Not one job will be saved.  The $250 billion in GDP we have foregone will not come back with International Labor Organization standards in a trade deal.

Dorgan is right, however, to focus upon Wal-Mart's sweatshop labor.  Dorgan is one of the most sensible heads on trade inside the beltway swamp.  You remember Wal-Mart.  I actually used to shop there, but the stuff broke all the time. 

The Wal-Mart logo is simple and happy.  It gives us hope.

Apparently, the National Labor Committee found stuff under Wal-Mart's "don't ask, don't tell" rug.  Dorgan is speaking out on the report.

Christmas tree ornaments sold at Wal-Mart Stores and other major retailers were made in a Chinese sweatshop employing workers as young as 12 and others who work more than 100 hours a week. ...

[The report] found that some employees had been paid as little as 26 cents an hour, half the legal minimum wage in China, and that employees in the spray paint department had handled potentially dangerous chemicals with little or no protection. 

Yup.  America is just not as efficient and competitive as they are.  Adam Smith's comparative advantage is the explanation.  Merry Christmas... for some.

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written by Burl Finkelstein , December 13, 2007

The Dems saying that labor and envirnmental standards in trade agreements will help level the paying field is nothing but lip service to the public. China tells us that they have standards. Anyone who visits China sees that enforcement of standards is optional. If money is made, Labor and the envirnment are not going to get in the way. Only the US will shut down an industry that is employing people for a standards vioplation. Just look at China coal mines they kill people on a daily basis.

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