Steel Products
USW President Reacts to NAFTA Renegotiation
Written by Sandy Williams
July 19, 2017
United Steelworkers International President Leo Gerard says the Trump administration’s objectives for NAFTA don’t go far enough.
In a statement following publication of the objectives by the U.S. Trade Representative, Gerard said that although the USW has long supported renegotiation of NAFTA, protection for workers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico has been supplanted by corporate interests.
“The USTR seems to be backing the same priorities that have guided trade agreements since NAFTA was first negotiated, promoting corporate interests and leaving workers behind,” said Gerard. “This is not what workers who supported President Trump in the election expected. They assumed that he would renegotiate NAFTA to create better paying jobs for them and their families, rather than chasing higher profits and greater protections for corporate interests.”
Gerard advocates expanding, implementing and enforcing worker rights; addressing currency manipulation and rules of origin; coordinating to strengthen trade rules; and eliminating investor state dispute settlement provisions.
“Washington remains out of touch with working people,” said Gerard. “In the coming days, our members will fight for trade policies that advance our interests and those of our fellow workers in North America. We will hold the administration accountable to its promise to truly fix NAFTA, and if the renegotiations fail to advance the concerns of working people, we will fight like hell to defeat them.”
Sandy Williams
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