Blog-IT-o ergo sum

	9/9/2004

Mr. Birch Goes to Washington

Spent Wednesday with lobbyists in Washington getting their spin on The Free Trade Area of the Americas agreement. Here is the quick recap:

NFIB - "Membership is not export oriented," so they generally have not followed these trade agreements. The gentlemen in charge of regulatory policy, who is currently in a fight to stop a union led drive to have OSHA adopt German OSHA standards, was sympathetic though to the idea that these agreements could lead to calls for changes in our laws to meet "international (read socialist) norms." He was particularly alarmed about the UN's ILO being named in the FTAA and that mutual recognition of professional licenses and certifications across the trade area would also be required. He did have a book on Libertarianism in his bookshelf and a letter from the Cato Institute on the top of the massive pile of papers cluttering his desk. Lot's of George Bush paraphernalia around the rest of the office.

NAM - "Sleeping with the enemy." The VP of International Economic Affairs in charge of following the FTAA for NAM is a 30 year commerce department veteran whose wife also happens to be one of the lead negotiators for our government for the FTAA. She is the assistant US Trade Representative working under Robert Zoellick. Not surprisingly NAM is 100% behind seeing the FTAA passed. They also take credit for the infamous chapter 11 in the NAFTA agreement, which created a trade court whose rulings can supercede the authority of our state supreme courts. We were assured though that no one on the US side would ever trade away US independence/sovereignty at the negotiating table. Our host was surprised that the UN's ILO is still listed as being given authority in the preamble of the draft document for "fundamental labor laws and regulations." He was sure they had negotiated out any position for the ILO -- the group he noted we got out of because, "They are communists."

NCTO - The textile manufacturers organization recently formed from the last surviving members of two other textile trade groups decimated by the shift of the clothing industry to China and elsewhere. Their biggest front burner issue is working to make sure the WTO quotas on China textiles stay in place past the current January 1st, 2005 expiration data. Even countries like Turkey and Mauritania are working with US manufacturers on this one to give you an idea of how competitive Chinese factories are. If NCTO is not successful in putting the brakes on China, they may not be around to pick up the fight against the FTAA, which they are 100% against and fully aware of its sovereignty destroying elements.

AMTAC - Near identical positions to NCTO. This group was formed two years ago with backing mostly from Roger Milliken (89 and still kicking) of Milliken Mills. Amtac is also working with other groups like SAM. They share their offices with Roger Milliken's lawyer in Washington Jock Nash, who described himself as being "more hard core than the John Birch Society." He counts Pat Buchanan among his friends.

9:49:54 PM

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