WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) made the following statement today on the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA):
“I will oppose ratification of CAFTA when it comes to the House floor. A globalized economy in which goods and services move with relative ease across national borders is a fact of life in the 21st Century, and I support trade that is free and fair. However, to be free and fair a trading regime must ensure that American workers are not competing with nations whose labor and environmental standards, and intellectual property theft, guarantee that we cannot compete.
“The dynamism of the American economy, the quality and dedication of American workers, and the constant renewal of American society through immigration have left us in a unique position to thrive in this new economic world. The challenges for the United States are how to prepare our workforce to deal with globalization and ensure that our workers have the opportunity to fairly compete.
“I lack confidence in the Administration’s willingness to negotiate hard on behalf of American workers. I do not believe that we should be forced to accept a flawed deal, or reject a good deal that has some shortcomings. We can take full advantage of trade opportunities only when we insist on basic labor, environmental and intellectual property protections.”
Congressman Schiff is the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of both the House Judiciary and International Relations committees. He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.
-30-