Sherrod Brown: “2 years ago this week the House of Representatives forced through the Central American Free Trade Agreement, the…”

“2 years ago this week the House of Representatives forced through the Central American Free Trade Agreement, the dysfunctional cousin of the job-killing trade agreement, NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement. CAFTA expanded NAFTA into five Central American countries and the Dominican Republic despite widespread bipartisan opposition to it in the United States, in Central America, and in the Dominican Republic. During the CAFTA debate, the largest ever bipartisan coalition was formed in opposition to CAFTA and in support of fair trade, a very different direction in our trade policy. A coalition of farmers, ranchers, cattlemen, small business men and women, labor groups, human rights organizations, consumer and environmental and faith groups connected the widespread opposition to NAFTA around the country, with Democrats and Republicans, were standing up to the President. CAFTA passed but not on its merits. In the middle of the night, the vote was held open until enough arms were twisted to secure a win in the House of Representatives by only two votes. CAFTA passed by the slimmest margin of any trade agreement in the modern era. That was because of the overwhelming opposition by those of us who support fair trade. We forever changed the debate on trade. Make no mistake, we want trade. As Senator Dorgan says, we want trade and plenty of it.”