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Ask Congress to Oppose the Panama Free Trade Agreement

The U.S. Trade Representative and corporate lobbyists are pushing for passage of the Panama Free Trade Agreement -- a trade deal negotiated by the Bush administration that repeats many of the same problems as NAFTA and CAFTA. We need to voice our opposition before this proposal starts to move forward.

The Panama FTA represents business-as-usual on trade, rather than the change that was promised to voters. In trying economic times like these, the first significant act on trade of the new Congress and new President simply cannot be to pass one of President Bush's hangover free trade agreements. The public deserves more.

Please write to your elected officials and urge them to oppose the Panama Free Trade Agreement.

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February 10, 2010

Subject:

Dear Sir or Madam:

The American public is sick-and-tired of business as usual on trade.  This was expressed clearly in the last two elections, in which "fair trade" candidates replaced "free trade" incumbents in dozens of races.

I was, therefore, surprised and distressed to learn that the U.S. Trade Representative has expressed interest in moving forward with the Bush administration-negotiated Panama Free Trade Agreement.

Like many of the failed trade agreements before it, President Bush's proposed trade deal with Panama contains special rights for foreign investors; limitations of food safety; public procurement restrictions; inadequate protections for workers and the environment; harmful agricultural provisions; and constrained access to medications.

Panama's status as a known tax haven that thrives on banking secrecy is also cause for concern. Panamanian banking law enables businesses to establish subsidiaries there with the purpose of evading U.S. taxes, and also aids in laundering money from drug cartels throughout the region.  Given the role that banking secrecy is playing in the current global financial meltdown, it is inappropriate to consider a trade agreement with a country that refuses to accept even the most basic norms of banking transparency and regulation.

I would appreciate hearing your stance on this matter, and hope that you will communicate to your colleagues and with the U.S. Trade Representative that the Panama Free Trade Agreement is not an appropriate policy to be pushing.

Sincerely,

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Oregon Fair Trade Coalition
310 SW 4th Ave. #436 - Portland, OR 97204 - 503-736-9777
orftc@citizenstrade.org

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