This debate will bring to the fore the central issues of our role in the global economy, said Wellstone. It ought not be treated lightly. There are a whole set of issues dealing with human rights and environmental and labor standards that had, until the recent events in Seattle, been off the radar screen in this country and the Congress. People in the country have real worries that this deal may hurt them more than it will help. What Seattle showed was that there is increasing concern in our country about the costs of globalization.
More people see the importance of maintaining basic labor and environmental standards.
For the U.S. Senate to give these topics short shrift would be irresponsible. These are the central economic issues of our time and we ought to have a full debate. The confidential WTO accession agreement with China has not been declassified and the public and news media have not had adequate opportunity to examine it closely. The press release posted here has been provided to Common Dreams NewsWire by one of the many progressive organizations who make up America's Progressive Community . If you wish to comment on this press release or would like more information, please contact the organization directly.