USTR Pushes Back Against Allegations of Insulation From Labor, Advocacy Groups
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) closely incorporates industry representatives, labor unions, environmental groups, consumer groups, health groups, state and local government, and academia in trade negotiation debate, the Office of the USTR said in a recent blog post, in an apparent effort to push back against union allegations to the contrary.
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“The labor community’s impact on trade is not limited to negotiations. On issues ranging from trade remedies to trade enforcement, labor voices have been heard,” said the post. “Those voices will continue to be heard. In just the past few months Ambassador Froman has met individually or had telephone consultations with the heads of several major unions.” Michael Froman is the head of USTR. According to the post, Froman met with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the United Auto Workers, the United Food and Commercial Workers and the United Steelworkers.
The AFL-CIO said in a Feb. 4 letter to House and Senate lawmakers unions are not sufficiently consulted on Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and, therefore, cannot evaluate the labor impact of a final pact (see 14020716).