WASHINGTON – Democrats from Minnesota's U.S. House delegation on Friday joined in a rejection of President Obama's international trade policies.
The state's five Democratic representatives helped undercut a three-pronged legislative platform from which the Democratic president hoped to finalize a free-trade agreement now being hashed out among Pacific Rim countries.
Democrats Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum, Rick Nolan, Tim Walz and Collin Peterson all rejected a bill that would have provided federal funds to retrain workers who lose jobs from free-trade agreements. And all voted against trade promotion authority that would have let the White House negotiate the Pacific Rim deal while allowing an up-or-down vote by the House and Senate without amendments.
Obama "made a passionate plea to us based on the fact that, in his mind, everything he does is for working people," Nolan said in an interview with the Star Tribune.
Nolan voted against all three parts of the trade legislation. "I am convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that this is destruction of the middle class," he said.
After trade adjustment assistance failed, trade promotion authority passed by a 219-211 margin with Minnesota's three Republican representatives, John Kline, Erik Paulsen and Tom Emmer, voting in favor. All three, who had also voted for trade assistance, then helped pass a third proposal dealing with trade enforcement. Peterson joined the Republicans on the enforcement vote, which passed 240-190.
But without concurrent passage of trade adjustment assistance, nothing could be sent to the White House for Obama's signature.
"We need a trade deal that's fair, that restricts currency manipulation, promotes 'Made in America' manufacturing, and opens foreign markets for our agricultural products," Walz said in a statement issued Friday. "Unfortunately, [trade promotion authority] — and by extension [trade adjustment assistance] — makes it so Congress cannot ensure that is the case."
Peterson cited the World Trade Organization's role in overturning U.S. meat labeling rules as an example of international trade gone awry.
"The administration says nothing in these trade agreements is going to force the United States to change its laws," Peterson said. "But the House this week did just that, voting to repeal country of origin labeling because of trade retaliation scare tactics."
Speaking against the trade assistance measure's link to trade promotion before the crucial vote, Ellison insisted it was too little aid to workers who would lose jobs to a bad trade deal.
"Trade adjustment assistance should not be a sweetener, a trade-in coin," Ellison told his colleagues. "Trade adjustment assistance should be what we do no matter what."
Republicans in the Minnesota delegation countered with statements of support for trade promotion authority.
"TPA requires a more open and transparent process for any potential trade agreement," Kline said in a statement.
Emmer tweeted that trade promotion authority "is an important step in ensuring America's future success as a nation, both domestically and globally."
Paulsen, an outspoken champion of free trade agreements, added: "It's difficult to overstate the benefits of trade with other countries."
