The Trans-Pacific Partnership
A race to the bottom we can’t afford
The simple truth is the Trans-Pacific Partnership is a race to the bottom.
Having reviewed the preliminary Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, and after attending weekly classified briefings for the past two years, it’s clear to me that there are no significant protections for American manufacturers and workers — for their wages, pensions and health care — or for our economy or our environment.
Unless Congress puts a stop to it, the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement will follow NAFTA in a race to the bottom that will send millions of our good American jobs overseas. As miners across Minnesota’s Iron Range continue to face devastating layoffs, the Trans-Pacific Partnership would allow the continued dumping of millions of tons of low-grade, foreign government-subsidized steel and other knock-offs of top quality American manufactured goods into our marketplace, doing irreparable damage to our economy.
To be clear, American workers can compete and win anywhere in the world — but not when forced to compete with nations like Vietnam and Malaysia where wages are low, worker benefits are virtually non-existent and environmental regulations are largely a joke.
In short, these negotiations have been conducted in secret by foreign governments and multi-national corporations for the sole benefit of wealthy executives and special interests — to the detriment of American workers, our environment, our food safety and our ability to innovate and advance human development.
Make no mistake about it — I will continue to do everything in my power to see that the Trans-Pacific Partnership is defeated.
