Russ Feingold: “I rise to oppose the Central American Free Trade Agreement, known as CAFTA, the latest expression of the disastrous…”

“I rise to oppose the Central American Free Trade Agreement, known as CAFTA, the latest expression of the disastrous trade policies of this administration which are, unfortunately, a continuation of the disastrous trade policies of previous administrations. I hold listening sessions in each of Wisconsin's 72 counties every year. I have held those listening sessions for over 12 years now, listening to tens of thousands of people from all over Wisconsin. I recently completed my 900th of those sessions, and I can say that there is nearly universal frustration and anger with the trade policies we have pursued since the late 1980s. Even among those who would have called themselves traditional free-traders, it is increasingly obvious that the so-called NAFTA model of trade has been a tragic failure. I voted against NAFTA, GATT, and permanent most-favored-nation status for China, in great part because I felt they were bad deals for Wisconsin businesses and Wisconsin workers. At the time I voted against those agreements, I thought they would result in lost jobs for my State. Even as an opponent of those trade agreements, I had no idea just how bad things would be. And things could hardly be worse. One can see the results of those policies in hundreds of communities around my State.…”