On the recordFebruary 26, 2015
I thank Senator Brown for putting this group together to discuss the important trade issues facing our Nation. In Massachusetts, we know what a good trade deal looks like and what a bad trade deal looks like. Remember, we are the ones that traded Babe Ruth, so we know a bad trade deal when we see one. Right now in Massachusetts, we are seeing the United States negotiate two significant agreements--the Trans-Pacific Partnership in Asia and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership in Europe. Both of these agreements would establish binding rules on a wide range of issues, such as labor rights, energy, the environment, medicine pricing, patents, Internet freedom, and innovation. The scope goes far beyond the previous trade deals that focused on tariffs or access to markets. These trade deals need to meet several criteria in order to be acceptable: No. 1, workers rights. It is critically important that both trade deals protect workers rights. When we put goods on a ship, we can't do it by casting off workers rights. These deals need to benefit the middle class in our country and protect the rights of workers of our trading partners. They must also have robust and fully enforceable labor provisions that ensure compliance with international core labor standards. No. 2, protect our environment. If companies want to make more green, great, but they have to be green, too, and follow the environmental laws to protect our resources and our planet.…
