Welcome to Fair Trade
Fair Trade Act New Zealand Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Free Trade Idols: NAFTA, CAFTA, FTAA
from: Nathan Tabor
Copyright 2005 Nathan Tabor
Within a matter of weeks, our representatives in Congress will be on the verge of approving the pending Central American Free Trade Agreement, also known as CAFTA. I believe that the passage of this legislation, which could come up for a vote as soon as late June or early July, would be a tragic mistake for America.
I also personally believe that the idolatrous worship of so-called Free Trade, within the ranks of nominal Conservatives in the Republican Party, is a modern-day Golden Calf that will ultimately bring an economic curse upon our country. I realize that is a highly inflammatory statement, so let me clarify my position.
I, too, firmly believe in Free Trade — in the sense that the great Classical Liberals of yesteryear, visionary statesmen like Adam Smith and John Locke, understood the term. But I also believe in FAIR Trade, and that is the real issue at stake today.
Honest competition is the beating heart of capitalism, and I endorse it. But as a small businessman, I know firsthand just how hard it is for American businesses to remain competitive when the global playing field isn’t level.
The highly controversial CAFTA trade pact was negotiated over a year ago with the strong backing of the Bush Administration, but its supporters knew they didn’t have the votes to ram it through Congress before last year’s Presidential election. Now, ever since Inauguration Day, G.O.P. lawmakers have been high-pressured by the White House to pass CAFTA as soon as possible.
International treaties ratified within the past decade or so have established the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The net result of ALL of these ill-advised documents is to diminish the productivity of the U.S.A., severely limit our national sovereignty, compromise our borders, subject our people to the non-appealable dictates of an unfriendly international tribunal, impoverish many of our communities, and transfer ever-increasing portions of our national wealth abroad.
All of these objections apply equally to CAFTA, as do the outright deceptions used to lure the U.S. into these internationalist entanglements. Even the “Free Trade” label is misleading. As with NAFTA before it, the CAFTA pact would NOT promote Free Trade but rather highly regulated trade, subject to the rules of the WTO — which has already proven itself to be biased against and hostile toward American interests.
Perhaps the greatest danger from CAFTA is that its globalist sponsors view the treaty as a steppingstone to a hemispheric union under a Free Trade Area of the Americas — a major expansion of NAFTA — and eventually a real Global Government.
These and other dangers of CAFTA are well documented in “CAFTA: Exporting American Jobs and Industry,” by William Grigg, published in the April 18 issue of The New American magazine. Please take a few minutes to carefully read this article and other valuable resources at www.stopcafta.com .
I am especially pleased with the unequivocal statements made by my own NC 5th District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, who is an outspoken opponent of CAFTA. “Most of the people in my district are very opposed to CAFTA for economic reasons,” Foxx told The New American. “I have concerns about our involvement in any kind of international arrangement of this sort that undermines our sovereignty — whether it’s NAFTA, CAFTA, the WTO, or certainly the United Nations.”
CAFTA still faces stiff resistance in the House, partially because of understandable economic opposition from the textile industry and sugar producers. But as CAFTA heads toward a floor vote, its globalist architects are desperately working to push the scheme through Congress. If you are convinced, as I am, that passage of CAFTA would be a tragic mistake for America, then I urge you to take action quickly.
The key to defeating CAFTA is to let our representatives in Congress know that their constituents are informed about and opposed to CAFTA, and are watching how they vote on this crucial trade pact. Be sure to contact your own Congressional Representative at http://www.house.gov/ and register your opinion on this critical issue.
It’s not too much to say that the long-term survival of our sovereign Republic is at stake. The radical thing Congress needs to do is lower taxes and regulations on American businesses. Doesn’t that make sense?
About the author:
Nathan Tabor is a conservative political activist based in Kernersville, North Carolina. He has his BA in Psychology and his Master’s Degree in Public Policy. He is a contributing editor at www.theconservativevoice.comContact him at Nathan@nathantabor.com
Fair Trade Act New Zealand News
NZ craft art in European showcase
Talented young New Zealand jewellers and a textile artist are saying 'auf wiedersehen' to Aotearoa as they prepare to showcase their work at Talentè in Germany next month.
Read more...NZ craft and object art featuring in European showcase
Talented young New Zealand jewellers and a textile artist are saying ‘auf wiedersehen’ to Aotearoa as they prepare to showcase their work at Talentè in Germany next month.
Read more...TEU Tertiary Update Vol 15 No 2
The Ministry of Education released its briefing to the incoming minister to the public last week. Or, at least parts of it that are not being withheld under the Official Information Act were released.
Read more...Andrew Peller Limited Reports Continued Strong Growth in Third Quarter of Fiscal 2012
GRIMSBY, ONTARIO-- - This news release contains forward-looking information that is based upon assumptions and is subject to risks and uncertainties as indicated in the cautionary note contained elsewhere in this news release.Andrew Peller Limited announced today its results for the three and nine months ...
Read more...Bill backs Anzac, Waitangi holidays
Waitangi Day and Anzac Day public holidays that fall on weekends could be Mondayised after a Labour Party member's bill was introduced to Parliament.
Read more...Pat Pilcher: Are we set for a new copyright dust-up?
The rage against America's SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) may have only just subsided, but indications are that yet another copyright dust up is about to take place here as the Office of the United States Trade Representative negotiates...
Read more...ACTA protests lead EU Governments to suspend endorsement of the text
Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have announced that they will delay their endorsement of a controversial trade agreement following a tide of public protest.
Read more...