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Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio,
Although the president has repeatedly and emphatically stated that he would get rid of the disastrous trade policies of the last twenty-five years, this agreement promotes many of the same damaging provisions as its predecessor. As currently written, this agreement does not truly protect American jobs, American workers, or our environment.
“While I’m pleased the deal addresses some long-standing issues I have fought against, including threats to U.S. highway safety, the agreement remains incomplete. The agreement contains new labor standards and protections for workers, but lacks the proper mechanisms to enforce them. Without robust enforcement of these standards, American workers will continue to suffer from the same job outsourcing inflicted upon working families by the original agreement. Furthermore, the new agreement does not address climate change and fails to require participating countries to adopt and enforce environmental protections. I remain committed to working on much-needed improvements to the agreement in order to create a trade deal that works for all Americans, not just the wealthiest.”