Herb Kohl: “I will vote against the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement. While the final agreement maintains over-quota tariffs on…”

“I will vote against the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement. While the final agreement maintains over-quota tariffs on dairy products, I remain very concerned that the overall effect on dairy farmers will be negative, particularly as it affects cheese markets which are of critical importance to Wisconsin dairy. I am also concerned that this agreement sets up roadblocks for us to pass legislation that would allow Americans to buy less expensive prescription drugs from other countries. It includes a provision that protects the current right of drug companies to prevent importation of its patented drugs by other parties, in this case, parties in Australia. I understand that this provision will have no practical effect in Australia, since Australian law already prohibits drug exports. However, I am concerned about the dangerous precedence this sets.”