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House OKs Trade Deal With Peru

Bill split Dems, who defied wishes of labor unions

By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 8, 2007 4:27 PM CST
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(Newser) – Despite sharp criticism from labor leaders, environmentalists, and free-trade opponents, roughly half of House Democrats joined nearly all Republicans to pass a trade-liberalization agreement with Peru. Speaker Nancy Pelosi came out in favor of the deal, defying expectations that President Bush would find no friends for his trade policy in the current Congress, the New York Times reports. The Senate is expected to pass it, too.

Pelosi claimed the deal is kosher because it stipulates that Peru protect labor rights and the environment. Critics call it another sign the Bush administration is sacrificing American jobs to cheaper overseas labor; the administration counters that relatively few people lose jobs from trade. Pelosi and other party leaders have not endorsed pending deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

A man, dressed as a clown, carrying an empty bottle and an empty pot, walking on stilts, participates in a protest in Lima, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007. At least 7,000 workers from different unions protested against Alan Garcia's government and the free trade agreement with U.S. The sign...
A man, dressed as a clown, carrying an empty bottle and an empty pot, walking on stilts, participates in a protest in Lima, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007. At least 7,000 workers from different unions protested...   (Associated Press)
From left to right, US lawmakers Joseph Crowley, Gregory Meeks, Robert Bennett, David Dreier, Peru's President Alan Garcia, U.S. lawmaker Rodney Alexander, US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, US lawmakers Dennis Hastert, Jim McCrery and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino attend a news conference at the government palace in Lima, Friday,...
From left to right, US lawmakers Joseph Crowley, Gregory Meeks, Robert Bennett, David Dreier, Peru's President Alan Garcia, U.S. lawmaker Rodney Alexander, US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, US lawmakers...   (Associated Press)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi makes remarks during a visit at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Nov. 2, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi makes remarks during a visit at Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Nov. 2, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)   (Associated Press)
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Peru trade bill may be symbol of things to come
Economist

Peruvian unions go on massive strike
Prensa Latina

 
Nancy Pelosi • Peru • Globalization • congressional Democrats • free trade • George W. Bush

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