Sponsored by: Jerry Greenfield, delegate from Clackamas County to the Democratic Party of Oregon Central Committee. Approved: 08/04/2013
A RESOLUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON
IN SUPPORT OF TRANSPARENCY IN NEGOTIATION OF UNITED STATES TRADE AGREEMENTS
Whereas the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a complex commercial agreement being negotiated among 12 nations, including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea and Japan, and
Whereas the TPP would curtail sovereignty of individual nations, including the United States, by empowering a supranational quasi-judicial body to void national laws it determined would interfere with its objectives, and
Whereas TPP negotiations currently underway are largely secret even from most members of Congress, with the few members that obtained access being sworn to secrecy, while 600 Trade Advisors dominated by large multinational corporations have full access to the negotiations and texts of the agreements, and
Whereas President Obama wants the TPP presented to Congress via a Fast-Track procedure that would allow him to sign the agreement before Congress sees it, and only after the President signs it would the agreement be made public, subject to an up-or-down vote to approve without amendment, and
WHEREAS Fast Track Authority in effect under the Trade Act of 2002 expired on July 1, 2007,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Our Senators should insist that the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership be made public and subject to full discussion and modification by the Senate before this treaty is voted on by Congress.
Section 2. Our Senators should oppose reinstatement or exercise of Fast Track Authority by the president that circumvents the ability of the Senate to carefully consider the TPP and any future free trade agreements.
Section 3. Our Senators should oppose any international trade agreement that would undermine American manufacturing by encouraging production to move to low-wage countries with weak labor and environmental standards.
Section 4. Our members of the Democratic National Committee should refer this resolution to that body as a matter for consideration by the Democratic Parties of all of the states.
Resolution submitted by Jerry Greenfield, delegate from Clackamas County to the Democratic Party of Oregon Central Committee. Passed by DPO Platform Committee, August 4, 2013. ADOPTED* by the Democratic Party of Oregon on the 4th day of August 2013.
* Because this was referred without THE standard 25-day listing, it was passed by a 2/3 majority.
