For Immediate Release: June 20, 2007

Sutton Speaks Out for a Fair Trade Model at Meeting of National Progressive Leaders

Congresswoman Betty Sutton participates in panel on strategies for the future of the global economy

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congresswoman Betty Sutton participated in a panel titled "New Strategies for the Global Economy" at the Take Back America 2007 conference. Sutton, one of four panelists, highlighted the effects of our broken trade policy on hardworking families in Ohio and across the United States.

"Traveling through my Congressional District and meeting with business owners and workers and their families, you hear and see the consequences of our trade policies," Sutton said.  "You understand that they are no longer theoretical.  They are very real and incredibly harmful.  This is unacceptable to me, and it should be unacceptable to our President and Congress."

Sutton explained to the audience that her advocacy of a new trade model does not mean that she is anti-trade.

"Trade can benefit American businesses and workers and be a tool to help developing countries that are looking to access our market.  But, unfortunately our current trade policies put America's businesses and workers at a disadvantage and reward companies who move overseas or outsource jobs."

Sutton outlined her opposition to fast track authority, asserting that Congress has a Constitutional authority over trade.  Congress, she said, should focus on fixing what is broken rather than passing additional free trade agreements (FTAs).  The Bush Administration and some Congressional leaders are currently pushing for passage of FTAs with Peru and Panama.

"It just doesn't make any sense to pass additional FTAs when we know there won't be enforcement of labor or environmental standards and that their passage will further the negative effects of our current broken trade policy.  For this reason, we have a responsibility to develop a truly new trade model that will allow our businesses and workers to flourish," Sutton said.  "Rather than passing more FTAs that will not be enforced, Congress should focus on addressing the ever-evolving tactics by foreign governments to unfairly manipulate trade to benefit their economies.  Inexplicably, the United States is the only nation that does not find it acceptable to protect our companies, workers and communities against unfair trade practices."

"We must develop a trade model that puts an enforceable end to currency manipulation, illegal subsidies and product dumping; requires reciprocity of market access; and ensures products produced elsewhere are safe for consumers here.  And probably most importantly, Congress must stop ceding its authority and responsibility over trade to the President."

Also participating in the panel were Thea Lee, Policy Director and Chief International Economist at the AFL-CIO, where she oversees research and strategies on domestic and international economic policy; David Sirota, an author and journalist that frequently appears on National Public Radio and who's writing has appeared in major publications throughout the country; and Ralph Gomory, president of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, former senior vice president of IBM and author of a recent MIT Press book on conflicts in international trade.  Robert Johnson, former chief economist at the U.S. Senate Banking Committee and former senior economist of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, moderated the panel.

Conference partners include the AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Steelworkers (USW), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), MoveOn.org, Democracy for America, and the Alliance for Justice.  The conference began Monday, June 18, and will conclude on Wednesday, June 20.  Other Congressional leaders slated to participate include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Sherrod Brown, and presidential hopefuls Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, former Senator John Edwards and Governor Bill Richardson.

Contact: Ian Mandel at 202-225-3401