Last week, House Democrats and right-wing Republicans held up fast-track authority for free trade, delaying action on the Trans-Pacific Trade Pact. The President and GOP leaders say the TPP is "absolutely essential" for the US economy. They had hoped for reconsideration this week, but now the issue has been delayed again — until the end of this month. Too many players call it a "bad deal" — even though the details are still secret. We hear why it's so important to both supporters and critics, including multinational companies, organized labor and politicians of both parties. What's at stake if it's finally enacted? What if it loses?
Does Pacific Free Trade Have a Future?
More
- Trade Promotional Authority (TPA)
- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
- New York Times on NAFTA v. TPP
- Public Citizen on fast-track authority
- Public Citizen on the Trans-Pacific Partnership
- Emergency Committee for American Trade on the TPP
- Peterson Institute for International Economics on estimated gains from trade pacts
- World Wildlife Fund on the TPP and promoting sustainable and legal trade
- Oceana on the TPP and saving the oceans, feeding the world
Credits
Guests:
- Lori Wallach - Public Citizen - @PCGTW
- Cal Cohen - Emergency Committee for American Trade - @EcatTrade
- Randy Bryce - Iron Workers Local 8 - @IronStache
- Simon Johnson - Massachusetts Institute of Technology - @baselinescene