We Cannot Afford Bad Trade Deals

Floor Speech

Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, trade of course can be good for Americans and our economy, but we cannot afford bad trade deals. Bad trade deals exacerbate inequality. It makes the ladder of opportunity harder to climb for working people.

Twenty years ago, Washington passed NAFTA, and the results have been devastating to our economy for working people. Over 850,000 U.S. jobs left for Mexico, and our trade deficit skyrocketed from $100 billion to $700 billion. Before fast track authority, the U.S. had a trade surplus.

Fast track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership are not right for the American people. We must have more transparency. We must have more disclosure. We must have good trade deals that reflect the fact that the United States workers produce great services and products.

The trade deals need to reflect that, not have a race to the bottom for which we go to the cheapest markets around the world to compete with good American workers who make fair pay. It is not the right thing. I am for trade, but not bad trade agreements that are conducted in secret.

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