And Just Like That, "Free Trade" Pact Trounces US Law

[JEB]

Congress kills country-of-original label law with provision tucked into omnibus budget
by
Lauren McCauley

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/16/and-just-free-trade-pact-trounces-us-law

Claims that trade pacts like the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will not trump public health and environmental policies were revealed to be fiction on Tuesday after Congress, bending to the will of the World Trade Organization, killed the popular country-of-origin label (COOL) law.
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Short read exposing how these "trade" agreements undermine our democracy.
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/16/and-just-free-trade-pact-trounces-us-law

[upaloopa]

1. Would there have been a different result if

Congress was controlled by Dems?

If so I think it is more our representatives and not a trade deal that is the problem.

[JEB]

2. From the article:

Congress successful revoked the mandate just over one week after the WTO ruled that the U.S. could be forced to pay $1 billion annually to its NAFTA partners, which argued that the law "accorded unfavorable treatment to Canadian and Mexican livestock."
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$1 billion is a pretty heavy price to pay for knowing the country of origin of your steak. These trade bills are not written with the average citizen in mind. One has to believe in "trickle down" to believe these "trade agreements" are anything more than a power grab by corporate interests.

[Scuba]

3. Since 1/3 of House Dems joined the R's in repealing the law, probably not ...

http://www.whiteoutpress.com/articles/2015/q2/country-origin-labels-repealed-us-wto/

Yesterday, the US House voted 300-131 to repeal the law requiring country of origin labels on meat products sold in America. Republicans overwhelmingly supported the Bill 234-10. While one-third of House Democrats defected and joined the GOP for a Democrat vote of 66-121. View the full roll call vote to see how your Representative voted. The above vote is a good indication of how a similar vote will turn out for ‘Fast Track’ trade authority and the infamous and secret TPP and TTIP global trade deals currently under debate.

[JEB]

4. Thanks for the link.

My lower than dog shit Rep. Kurt Schrader Blue Dog sellout of course voted for it.