Weekly Debate: Free trade in the Americas

Last week, Washington Post columnist Marcela Sanchez wondered if the changes to U.S. global trade policy proposed by the Democrats will be as positive as they claim. Since the Democrats took control of Congress after elections last November they have been eager to change future trade deals and released a report detailing their plan. Sanchez sees a mixed bag in the Democrats’ plan entitled “A New Trade Policy for America”:

“The Democratic proposal has elements that are welcome and attractive, including a commitment to boost trade and increase aid to poor nations. One can only hope that such aid represents at least a significant fraction of the estimated $20 billion that Democrats want to spend annually to create a safety net for U.S. workers hurt by globalization.

Yet it is not very clear that the Democrats are committed to the fundamental aspect of trade that benefits poorer nations -- free and fair access to the U.S. market. The Democratic proposal also lacks any mention of ending protections for U.S. producers, particularly the multibillion-dollar agricultural subsidies that have historically obtained congressional passage with broad Democratic support”.

Nonetheless, Sanchez concludes her article by applauding the Democrats’ effort “that finds a broad middle ground and does not need to appeal to the extremes”.

Will Congress leverage its influence on the Bush administration to change free trade agreements or is it really just empty rhetoric? Should U.S. free trade deals be changed or are they fine as is? Will the Americas continue to be divided over whether to support or reject free trade?

What do you think?

Links- The Latin Americanist, Washington Post, House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee

Image- Washington Post (Brazilian coffee picker gathering seeds for "fair trade" coffee)