This is the wrong way to negotiate international trade agreements. While we must acknowledge that we live in a competitive global economy, we should not accept agreements that are unfair to workers. We are now considering the opening of our markets to countries that allow child labor and sweatshop conditions. Often these countries have no minimum wage laws or worker safeguards. If we refuse to demand that these countries implement fair and humane treatment for their workers, increased trade with these nations will only encourage the kinds of abuses the labor movement has fought against and defeated at home.
American workers can compete with anybody in the world if the playing field is level.
But if foreign businesses pay their workers starvation wages and don't have to ensure safe working conditions and reasonable hours, we cannot expect workers in this country to compete. I believe part of the reason for increasing income inequality in American society is the decline in the number of well-paying manufacturing jobs that helped build our nation's middle class. Although part of this decline is due to technological change, the problem is compounded when companies can manufacture goods elsewhere for a fraction of the domestic cost. The results are clear, American workers lose jobs, our trade deficit increases, and income inequality increases. This has not happened.