Dennis Kucinich: “the U.S.-Morocco free trade agreement is bad for America. The agreement prohibits the importation of lower cost…”

“the U.S.-Morocco free trade agreement is bad for America. The agreement prohibits the importation of lower cost pharmaceuticals, and delays the availability of lower cost generic drugs by creating new patent-like protections for drug regulatory data. Together, these measures will maintain high prescription drug prices in the U.S. The agreement contains a side letter permitting Morocco to ignore enforcement of its labor laws with no penalty whatsoever. Under this loophole, American employers and workers under U.S. labor law could be at a disadvantage if actual conditions in Morocco are so lax as to create a much cheaper business environment. The agreement prohibits the preferences for government contracts to be given for: employing U.S. workers, using recycled materials, paying prevailing or living wages. Furthermore, no criminal record of tax evasion, endangering the lives of workers, or pollution can disqualify a company for a government contract. These flaws are not necessary for trade between nations. They are, however, elements in an anti-consumer, anti-worker, anti-environment and anti-democratic agenda. For these reasons, I oppose the U.S.- Morocco free trade agreement.”