The Bush administration, facing a Democratic Congress, said Wednesday it would seek a 'substantive adjustment' to the labor provisions in free trade agreements already negotiated with Peru, Colombia and Panama. . . . The announcement that the administration wants changes in the labor provisions was the strongest signal to date that President Bush is prepared to modify his trade policies in light of last November's election in which Democrats gained control of the House and Senate. . . . Democrats, backed by U.S. labor unions, have long complained that the free trade deals being negotiated by the administration did not include enough protections for American workers. (Houston Chronicle, Thursday)
Is free-trade agreement an oxymoron?
FEE Timely Classic
Why Managed Trade Is Not Free Trade by Robert Batemarco