Analysis: Secret trade talks will make it harder to Buy American

Be American Buy American. Sounds simple enough doesn’t it? Have the state, or your community, adopt “Buy American” policies to help protect good paying jobs in the United States. It’s an important policy tool that we can use for spending U.S. tax dollars for U.S. job creation, jobs for family, friends and neighbors.

The vast majority of Americans think this the right thing to do. But “Buy American” policies – and the good jobs they create – are all at risk.

The latest corporate free trade deal is called the Trans-Pacific Partnership. It’s being negotiated in secret, except for the approximately 600 corporate advisors who are participating. Leaked documents show there is something called the procurement chapter. Procurement rules simply define how our national, state, and local governments may use our tax dollars in local construction projects and for the purchase of goods. They also define what specifications governments can require for goods and services and the qualifications for bidding companies.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership’s procurement chapter would require that all companies operating in any signatory country have the same access to U.S. government procurement contracts as the domestic firms that provide our jobs. The United States would agree to waive “Buy American” and “Buy Local” procurement policies for all such foreign firms, eliminating that important job creation policy tool while putting our existing good paying jobs at risk. Also at rish would be environmental and human rights policies, such as those requiring that electricity come from renewable sources or that uniforms meet sweat-free standards.

Other provisions of the Trans-Pacific Partnership would eliminate product labeling so it would be difficult for individual Americans to “Buy American” on their own. Under the terms of that provision, there would be no way to know if the U.S. flag proudly waving in the breeze in front of your home was made in America or if it was produced in China or Vietnam.

Congress is in recess during the time leading up to and through the July 4th holiday. Coincidently, a new round of Trans-Pacific Partnership talks were to take place in Vancouver, B.C. starting on Thursday, July 3 –the day before America celebrates our nation’s birth! It certainly appears that the 600 corporate “advisors” are trying to pull one over on all of us while we’re busy celebrating our independence.
A substantial number of people were in Vancouver to call attention to this dangerous corporate power grab. It now appears those talks have been moved to Ottawa to avoid the attention.

No one doubts the value of trade, but not if it puts American workers at a disadvantage and American consumers at risk. We’ve seen enough lost jobs, shuttered plants, and hollowed-out communities. It’s time to rebuild the middle class, not tear it down, and that means trade deals that benefit working Americans.

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to block talks for trade agreements that void Buy American rules. Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota was among those who is working hard on this issue. But more lawmakers need to take a stand for fair trade.

It’s time to let our elected representatives know that we are watching and they need to stop letting big corporations ship our jobs overseas and dump our wages and benefits overboard along the way.

Find more information about the TPP and the banning of Buy American policies on this website.