So the Sierra Club’s attempt to nudge U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., into opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal didn’t work.
Polis hasn’t actually come out for the TPP — but that’s because it hasn’t been fully negotiated.
But he’s done the next best thing. He’s signaled that he supports so-called fast-track authority for the president to finish the agreement with 11 other countries, including Japan, Canada, Vietnam and Australia, to be followed by an up or down vote in Congress.
And in taking that stance, Polis becomes a sadly rare phenomenon: a progressive Democrat who still appreciates the enormous benefits of expanded trade and the importance of keeping the U.S. in the driver’s seat in crafting trade agreements.
He also becomes a key “yes” vote in the House.
The Senate passed fast-track authority last month and the House is expected to vote this month, perhaps in the next few days. Most Democrats and a few Republicans oppose it, mainly because of environmental and wage fears. Polis is the only one of Colorado’s three Democratic representatives to support fast track at the moment, although Rep. Ed Perlmutter’s office says he is still undecided.
In Polis noted that the TPP is expected to include “a historically high bar for labor, human rights … transparency, and enforcement.”
Moreover, he rightly argues, “it’s simply not fair that products produced in Japan see an average tariff of only two to three percent when coming into the U.S., but some products like dairy produced in Colorado could see Japanese tariffs as high as 600 percent.”
Contrary to myth, he adds, “98 percent of U.S. exporters are small businesses” that create jobs.
Congress wouldn’t have to approve the TPP once it gives the president fast-track authority. But without it, the president isn’t likely to finalize the deal. He should be given authority to proceed.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
