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RiverLover

(7,830 posts)
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 07:28 PM Dec 2014

NAFTA, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Clinton Global Initiative

NAFTA, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Clinton Global Initiative
June 2014

NAFTA promoters in the '90s promised increased U.S. exports and jobs, with shrinking trade deficits. Senior Fellows of the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), projected a NAFTA-induced trade surplus with Mexico, in turn, creating 170,000 new U.S. jobs by 1995. Within two years of NAFTA's passage, PIIE prognosticators readjusted their projection of new NAFTA-created jobs downward to "zero." The same group, created by billionaire corporate cheerleader Pete Peterson, is again forecasting increased exports and jobs if the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is passed.

Referencing 19 serious pre-NAFTA economic studies projecting zero net job loss if NAFTA were to pass, President Bill Clinton estimated the creation of 200,000 U.S. jobs within two years, and 1 million within five years, based on a projected export boom to Mexico. Twenty years after Clinton signed NAFTA into law, Global Trade Watch reports a 450 percent increase in the U.S. trade deficit, resulting in the export of almost one million jobs, and downward pressure on wages.

...Echoing promises of lowered trade barriers, improved labor conditions and environmental protections made by NAFTA advocates two decades earlier, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Hanoi, Viet Nam in 2012 promoted the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the most far-reaching trade agreement ever, encompassing 12 Pacific Rim countries. Secretary Clinton stated support for free expression online, and pronounced, "Democracy and prosperity go hand-in-hand," even as the backroom dealings of hundreds of corporate lobbyists have engaged in writing the TPP to challenge everything from Net Neutrality to democratic process and state sovereignty. An amplification of NAFTA provisions, leaked segments of the secretive treaty reveal that wholesale powers granted by the TPP to corporations would permit them to sue governments for alleged lost profits in special international tribunals that bypass the U.S. court system, and to advocate overturn of regulatory laws intended to protect people and the environment.

As the Clinton Global Initiative convenes in Denver June 23-25, it brings together some of the same financial hard-hitters who cheerleaded NAFTA into being, and seek to do the same for the TPP. Among them, Robert Rubin, chief economic advisor to the Clinton White House, is listed as a participant in a panel discussion "Exploring what it will take for the U.S. to retain a position of global economic leadership in an increasingly complex world."

Noble Energy, engaged in worldwide oil and gas exploration and production, is co-funder with Anadarko Petroleum of whitewashed pro-fracking ads under the acronym "CRED" (Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development). At the CGI event, Noble's CEO is scheduled to host a discussion of "the ways in which the North American energy revolution is altering the geopolitical, economic, and energy policy landscapes," seeking reexamination of "the traditional social and regulatory frameworks in which energy is produced, consumed and exported," while touting the "low-carbon profile" of natural gas (no doubt minus consideration of externalities of hydrofracking -- the overall costs to taxpayers and the environment)....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-swenson/nafta-the-transpacific-clinton_b_5523327.html
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NAFTA, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Clinton Global Initiative (Original Post) RiverLover Dec 2014 OP
"Echoing promises.... made by NAFTA advocates two decades earlier..." NewDeal_Dem Dec 2014 #1
Promises, promises... RiverLover Dec 2014 #2
Interesting how the same language used to sell NAFTA is being employed to sell TPP. pa28 Dec 2014 #3
I didn't know about the Korean Free Trade Agreement. RiverLover Dec 2014 #4
President Obama SamKnause Dec 2014 #6
Wow, interesting-ly creepy. RiverLover Dec 2014 #9
For anyone else interested in the KORUS agreement here is a summary of the results. pa28 Dec 2014 #8
Thanks pa28, really good article~ RiverLover Dec 2014 #15
Amazing to me is how after NAFTA, Glass Steagall and the 2008 Burndown people like Rubin, Clinton, appalachiablue Dec 2014 #11
We think of NAFTA and Glass-Steagall repeal as being disastrous. pa28 Dec 2014 #20
I have a lot of respect for Stiglitz, always, and Dean Baker who is too little heard as you say. appalachiablue Dec 2014 #21
Right, the public is also uninformed intentionally. The RW control of 90% of media for 20 years appalachiablue Dec 2014 #23
Seems pretty clear by now, that this is going to get rammed down our throats... 99Forever Dec 2014 #5
But but but I thought that the Clintons were regular people FOR regular people!!! NYC_SKP Dec 2014 #7
During his reelection campaign, AtomicKitten Dec 2014 #10
I didn't know that, thank you. appalachiablue Dec 2014 #13
here's a pertinent link AtomicKitten Dec 2014 #16
Thanks mucho. No wonder my little brother in NY didn't like Clinton. He passed just before the appalachiablue Dec 2014 #18
I used to think that! I remember my Mom telling me that NAFTA was really bad news, RiverLover Dec 2014 #12
I was elated at the Clinton-Gore win, their youth and energy especially after appalachiablue Dec 2014 #17
Huge K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Dec 2014 #14
Recommend..! KoKo Dec 2014 #19
Where are our resident TPP / NAFTA cheerleaders? n/t X_Digger Dec 2014 #22
They probably found a thread where they can espouse their hatred for whistle-blowers and others rhett o rick Dec 2014 #24
They are busy downloading new free trade talking points from Elwood P Dowd Dec 2014 #26
Funny thing is.. I watched blue collar support for our party get pissed down the drain last time. X_Digger Dec 2014 #32
Maybe they took a holiday -- maybe they don't get vacation pay and aren't working at posting on JDPriestly Dec 2014 #28
lol!! n/t X_Digger Dec 2014 #30
Well, I don't know about that Bobbie Jo Dec 2014 #34
the goal seems to be everyone to compete Ramses Dec 2014 #25
K&R. JDPriestly Dec 2014 #27
A disaster. Yes. Just like NAFTA was/is. And if those in the know are right, it'll RiverLover Dec 2014 #29
and NAFTA was passed with the vast majority of republicans voting for it. B Calm Dec 2014 #31
With progressive Democrats against it. Just like today with the TPP. RiverLover Dec 2014 #33
This should have received more recs. marym625 Jan 2015 #35

pa28

(6,145 posts)
3. Interesting how the same language used to sell NAFTA is being employed to sell TPP.
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 07:59 PM
Dec 2014

Vague language about "competing and winning" in the global market and "creating jobs" (everywhere but here).

We know what the results of large scale free trade agreements are, most recently demonstrated with the Korean Free Trade Agreement. As with TPP Obama teamed up with Republicans and went against Democrats to pass that one as well.

The Bill Clintons and Robert Rubins of the world know exactly what the results will be for American workers and the American labor market and they'll just shrug their shoulders at the inevitable result saying it will be "different" next time.

Memories are short and the public is gullible.

SamKnause

(13,043 posts)
6. President Obama
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 08:10 PM
Dec 2014

signed 3 new Free Trade Deals;

Panama

South Korea (has already costs the U.S. jobs)

Colombia (this country has the worst record for violence against unions and their organizers) Maybe that is why president Obama could not find his walking shoes when the unions of this country needed his help !!!!!!!!!

They are in the 1% club. (Bush's, Clinton's, Dimon's, Blankfein's, etc.)

They have a very different agenda in mind for this country.

pa28

(6,145 posts)
8. For anyone else interested in the KORUS agreement here is a summary of the results.
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 08:14 PM
Dec 2014

U.S.-Korea Trade Deal Resulted in Growing Trade Deficits and Nearly 60,000 Lost Jobs

This Saturday is the second anniversary of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), which took effect on March 15, 2012. President Obama said at the time that KORUS would increase US goods exports by $10 to $11 billion, supporting 70,000 American jobs from increased exports alone. Things are not turning out as predicted.


http://www.epi.org/blog/korea-trade-deal-resulted-growing-trade/

Entirely predictable results but the Washington consensus will pretend it's a huge mystery for public benefit.

RiverLover

(7,830 posts)
15. Thanks pa28, really good article~
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 08:24 PM
Dec 2014
...Many members of the proposed TTP trade and investment deal have long histories of currency manipulation, dumping, and other unfair trade practices that have dramatically increased U.S. trade deficits and job losses, and the agreement could sharply curtail the ability of the United States to challenge these practices. The TPP would significantly increase the threat that rapidly growing trade deficits and job losses in the United States would be locked in if the TPP is completed...

appalachiablue

(41,055 posts)
11. Amazing to me is how after NAFTA, Glass Steagall and the 2008 Burndown people like Rubin, Clinton,
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 08:18 PM
Dec 2014

Summers et al, are still so highly involved in economic affairs of this level. Where's Greenspan? Nevermind.

pa28

(6,145 posts)
20. We think of NAFTA and Glass-Steagall repeal as being disastrous.
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 11:37 PM
Dec 2014

Because the fallout from those events was disastrous for most Americans. We can't believe the architects of such badly failed plans could be allowed anywhere near the wheels of policy ever again.

However, if you are a member of the elite financial class those "disasters" were hugely profitable. Larry Summers keeps appearing at the top of the policy ladder because he has a litmus test for every decision. He asks himself "what would Goldman think?" I suspect Robert Rubin keeps mysteriously appearing for similar reasons.

Joseph Stiglitz couldn't believe his ears. Here they were in the White House, with President Bill Clinton asking the chiefs of the US Treasury for guidance on the life and death of America's economy, when the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Larry Summers turns to his boss, Secretary Robert Rubin, and says, "What would Goldman think of that?"

Then, at another meeting, Summers said it again: What would Goldman think?


http://www.gregpalast.com/larry-summers-goldman-sacked/

Qualified economists who warn against corporate free trade agreements and endless bank bailouts like Dean Baker never, ever, have a seat at the table because he's an advocate for the public interest.

The public interest operates differently from the interest of the elites who control policy. We (99% of us at least) get rendered and chopped deliberately. It's not an accident.

appalachiablue

(41,055 posts)
21. I have a lot of respect for Stiglitz, always, and Dean Baker who is too little heard as you say.
Sun Dec 28, 2014, 12:04 AM
Dec 2014

I thought by now the WS wolfpack leadership would have gone away, retired to their homes in Bermuda and Mexico, I wish! The 90s are over, and they should be too. But right, the powers are still in place dominating around the globe, out and on top even after 2008. Seems like we're really loosing the time frame for real action and any reform in finance although Bernie, Warren, Sherrod Brown have tried. Correct, we the little people, dead peasants and useless eaters clearly don't matter, just giant global corporate profits for elites.

Summers is something, the what would Goldman do question b/c Goldman rules, like audacious Lloyd Blankfein's, 'I'm doing God's work!". He should have been gone after chasing off Cornell West for trivial stuff and making the asinine remark about women's lack of ability in math and science.
What a group. I've seen the increasing connection with them from years of living in Wall Street on the Potomac, a place I still love. Greg Palast is terrific, I follow him on Thom Hartmann usually. Keep the faith.

appalachiablue

(41,055 posts)
23. Right, the public is also uninformed intentionally. The RW control of 90% of media for 20 years
Sun Dec 28, 2014, 01:08 AM
Dec 2014

has assisted the work of the Reagan Counter Revolution and corporate globalization. Uncle Miltie is proud.
I saw Susan Rice give a speech on CSPAN last year; to her the TPP Asia Pacific pact would solve and improve everything on earth- total jingo talk to think tankers and policy types. Europeans aren't happy about TTIP either, news of a large demonstration in Belgium was recently posted on DU.

99Forever

(14,524 posts)
5. Seems pretty clear by now, that this is going to get rammed down our throats...
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 08:09 PM
Dec 2014

... come hell or high water. Apparently what We the People think has no influence on what this administration does. I have yet to hear a single cogent explanation as to why this rape of the American worker and destruction of this Nation's sovereignty should even be contemplated, let alone put into law WITHOUT OUR CONSENT.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
7. But but but I thought that the Clintons were regular people FOR regular people!!!
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 08:12 PM
Dec 2014

Not really.

I never really ever thought that, not for a minute.


This guy:



Executed this guy:




Trying to shed his party’s soft-on-crime image, then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton burnished his hip conservative-Democrat credentials by leaving the presidential campaign trail to oversee Rector’s execution personally — even though the cop-killer, lobotomized by a suicide attempt, famously saved the pie from his last meal to finish “later”.

 

AtomicKitten

(46,585 posts)
10. During his reelection campaign,
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 08:17 PM
Dec 2014

he ran ads on Christian radio touting his signing DOMA. He's a peach!

appalachiablue

(41,055 posts)
18. Thanks mucho. No wonder my little brother in NY didn't like Clinton. He passed just before the
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 08:43 PM
Dec 2014

election, was a John Anderson supporter, figures.

RiverLover

(7,830 posts)
12. I used to think that! I remember my Mom telling me that NAFTA was really bad news,
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 08:19 PM
Dec 2014

when Clinton began pushing for it. But I was really young, and a little bit in love with Bill Clinton, & hey I heard him say it would create jobs! Be good for our country! I thought my Mom was out of touch....

Wish she were here for me to tell her how right she was.

(I don't think she knew about that execution. Lobotomized?!?)

appalachiablue

(41,055 posts)
17. I was elated at the Clinton-Gore win, their youth and energy especially after
Sat Dec 27, 2014, 08:33 PM
Dec 2014

12 years of Occupation by RR-Bush. It was like the skies parted and the sun finally came out, particularly in DC. Have to say I've learned a lot about political maneuverings in the last 5 years, after the fact unfortunately. Working on foresight a lot in these times. Moms are the best and usually right. Dads too. I miss mine very much. (Never knew about this horrible execution). Dad never had much respect or interest in politics probably b/c his father was involved early in life which I didn't know until later. Dad was astute, right in many ways, could size someone up a mile away.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
24. They probably found a thread where they can espouse their hatred for whistle-blowers and others
Sun Dec 28, 2014, 01:46 AM
Dec 2014

that challenge authoritarian leaders. But they can't help themselves as they probably were raised to blindly follow authority.

Elwood P Dowd

(11,443 posts)
26. They are busy downloading new free trade talking points from
Sun Dec 28, 2014, 01:58 AM
Dec 2014

CATO, Heritage, Citi Group, Koch Industries, Freedom Works, and their boss, Robert Rubin.

X_Digger

(18,585 posts)
32. Funny thing is.. I watched blue collar support for our party get pissed down the drain last time.
Sun Dec 28, 2014, 11:22 AM
Dec 2014

All based on the '90's version of those same groups's garbage promises and lies.

*sigh*

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
28. Maybe they took a holiday -- maybe they don't get vacation pay and aren't working at posting on
Sun Dec 28, 2014, 04:32 AM
Dec 2014

DU.

Bobbie Jo

(14,341 posts)
34. Well, I don't know about that
Sun Dec 28, 2014, 11:27 AM
Dec 2014

some are certainly back at it.

Unintentional irony is the best kind, you better believe it!

 

Ramses

(721 posts)
25. the goal seems to be everyone to compete
Sun Dec 28, 2014, 01:54 AM
Dec 2014

At the 40-50 cent range per hour globally. No benefits,sick or vacation time. Destroy any remaining environmental standards.

And Hillary Clinton was and is an arcitect and supporter of the TPP, as is Obama.

As are Republicans

As are the 1%

But ive seemed to have repeated myself

RiverLover

(7,830 posts)
29. A disaster. Yes. Just like NAFTA was/is. And if those in the know are right, it'll
Sun Dec 28, 2014, 09:43 AM
Dec 2014

be even worse. "NAFTA on steroids."

Twenty years after Clinton signed NAFTA into law, Global Trade Watch reports a 450 percent increase in the U.S. trade deficit, resulting in the export of almost one million jobs, and downward pressure on wages.


^^^Add 12 more countries to this, with more possibly coming online including China~

Other countries interested in TPP membership include Taiwan,[43] the Philippines,[44] Laos,[45] Colombia,[46] and Indonesia.[47] Cambodia,[48] Bangladesh[49] and India have also been mentioned as possible candidates.[50] Despite initial opposition, China is interested in joining the TPP eventually.[51]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Pacific_Partnership


RiverLover

(7,830 posts)
33. With progressive Democrats against it. Just like today with the TPP.
Sun Dec 28, 2014, 11:24 AM
Dec 2014

And both NAFTA & TPP were initiated by the Bush Family. Sr started NAFTA & W the TPP, and both are enthusiastically supported by the Democratic Presidents who followed them.

The lines are too blurred.

marym625

(17,997 posts)
35. This should have received more recs.
Thu Jan 1, 2015, 10:20 AM
Jan 2015

I almost think there needs to be some new form to recognize good posts. There are so many posts anymore that it's too easy to miss important ones like this.

K&R!

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