Jim Webb Statement in Support of the Peru Trade Agreement

December 4, 2007 -- Washington, DC—The following is a statement by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) in support of the Peru Free Trade Agreement:

“I have been strongly critical of past trade agreements that have not included worker’s rights, and will continue to do so in the future. At the same time, it is important to note that properly constructed trade agreements which include such rights do benefit our country and our workers. Trade agreements that truly focus on fair trade as well as free trade provide consumers with goods and services at more affordable prices, make our own manufactured goods easier to sell abroad, and promote important foreign policy objectives.

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“After extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of the American labor force, I have concluded that the Peru Free Trade Agreement meets that test, and I congratulate the leadership in the House of Representatives for having insisted that labor provisions be included in the body of the agreement. For the first time, we have an agreement that puts workers rights – as recognized by the International Labor Organization – on a par with commercial provisions. I was pleased to join with the United Auto Workers and many other labor representatives in supporting the provisions on worker rights and environment standards that were included in this agreement.

“In fact, I believe that it was imperative to support the Peru Trade Agreement in order to encourage continued improvements in the future. We should take stock of the achievements in the agreement, but we should also work hard to ensure that in other areas we have the best trade policy possible. We urgently need to address devalued Chinese currency, write new Trade Promotion Authority that strengthens the role of Congress in trade negotiations, ensure that trade agreement provisions are enforced, and help our displaced workers get retraining.”

Source: Senator Jim Webb