US elections and the future US trade policy
21/05/2008Elections in the United States have drawn worldwide attention due to the impact that the United States has a world increasingly interdependent and globalized. More than ever, the policies adopted by US rulers are able to modify some trends of international relations.
Much of the debate on the election of the coverage has focused on issues of military nature, that they are actually fundamental to understanding the US macro-objectives in the world. However, the economic dimension has been a major international projection vectors of American power.
As we approach the end of the first phase of the US elections - primary -, Democrats will decide which of its two senators will be appointed to the presidential race: Senator Hillary Clinton or Senator Barack Obama. Republicans, in its turn, They are already closed around another senator, John McCain.
The primary phase has been important because it allows the placement of pre-candidate, while that allowed the development of some basic theses that each has sustained in recent months. Although there may be more profound changes when you start the next phase of elections, when actually there will be a presidential campaign, is interesting already observe the economic and commercial principles expounded by each candidate.
Barack Obama (Democrat, Illinois)
In general we can say that Obama supports free trade, although it has shown growing concern, as indeed it occurs among Democrats, with labor and environmental issues. Last February, during a speech in Wisconsin, stated that “we will not sign another trade agreement unless it has protections for our environment and for American workers”. Another interesting statement, made during a debate in August 2007, says “our trade should not be only good for Wall Street, but should also be good for Main Street”, a direct reference to workers.
In general we can say that Obama supports free trade, although it has shown growing concern, as indeed it occurs among Democrats, with labor and environmental issues. Last February, during a speech in Wisconsin, stated that “we will not sign another trade agreement unless it has protections for our environment and for American workers”. Another interesting statement, made during a debate in August 2007, says “our trade should not be only good for Wall Street, but should also be good for Main Street”, a direct reference to workers.
In a possible Obama administration, it is expected that the trade liberalization processes face major barriers, when no setbacks. Obama has been opposed to free trade agreements (free trade agreements – FTA) as with Colombia and South Korea, in addition to the heavy criticism that has sustained against Chinese trade policy. In this sense, the strategy will certainly be a bilateral treatment and product by product.
Hillary Clinton (Democrat, Nova York)
Following the democrat, Hillary segue uma linha de aprovação do livre comércio em termos conceituais, but indicating a lot of criticism of the way has been implemented. Basically their criticism converge with Obama, focusing on labor and environmental. His speech is different from that sustained by Obama in the justification for the treatment of free trade issues. Much more sensitive to international organizations, He criticized the free trade agreements with Chile and Singapore saying they did not respect the International Labor Organization standards.
Following the democrat, Hillary segue uma linha de aprovação do livre comércio em termos conceituais, but indicating a lot of criticism of the way has been implemented. Basically their criticism converge with Obama, focusing on labor and environmental. His speech is different from that sustained by Obama in the justification for the treatment of free trade issues. Much more sensitive to international organizations, He criticized the free trade agreements with Chile and Singapore saying they did not respect the International Labor Organization standards.
In the case of a FTA between the US and Colombia its position was critical, arguing that “I stand against any trade agreement with Colombia while continuing violence against labor unions, and violators are not brought to justice”. this statement, like so many others who have given in the same direction, indicate that Hillary , a possible government, should follow a more intense trade line off, that is, access to the US market should serve as a basis for the promotion of US values around the world, in that it will require the partner country to change some behaviors in labor and environmental.
John McCain (Republican, Arizona)
Contrary to what occurs in the case of the two Democratic candidates, McCain fully supports the North American Free Trade Agreemente - NAFTA (free comérico agreement between Canada, US and Mexico). Another important point of difference is the understanding he has of trade and free trade agreements, not realizing them as a purely commercial issue. Recently stated that the trade issue and the US national security are interconnected dimensions. In this sense, argued that, for example, criticism of NAFTA may bother the Canadian public, and that this may result in the withdrawal of military support that Canada has made in Afghanistan.
Contrary to what occurs in the case of the two Democratic candidates, McCain fully supports the North American Free Trade Agreemente - NAFTA (free comérico agreement between Canada, US and Mexico). Another important point of difference is the understanding he has of trade and free trade agreements, not realizing them as a purely commercial issue. Recently stated that the trade issue and the US national security are interconnected dimensions. In this sense, argued that, for example, criticism of NAFTA may bother the Canadian public, and that this may result in the withdrawal of military support that Canada has made in Afghanistan.
Also in this line, McCain has stated that free trade is a form of “open closed societies”, especially in the Middle East. Thereby, realize that their tendency is to use trade as an element of power and US interference in the world. To some extent converging with Clinton on the idea that trade can be an important US bargaining weapon in the world, McCain goes beyond having trade as an end-of-launches.
Broadly speaking, it is expected that in a possible government McCain the US adopt a more political and strategic position in relation to trade issues. Like this, more than opening new markets, major trade negotiations would be clear indications of the paths that the US will be following in international relations.
Broadly speaking, it is expected that in a possible government McCain the US adopt a more political and strategic position in relation to trade issues. Like this, more than opening new markets, major trade negotiations would be clear indications of the paths that the US will be following in international relations.
* Rodrigo Cintra is Professor of International Relations of the course of ESPM and director of Focus R. I. - Advice & Consulting International Relations. Email: cintra@rodrigocintra.pro.br
Originally published in:
http://epocanegocios.globo.com/Revista/Epocanegocios/0,,EDG83789-8373-15,00-ELEICOES+NOS+EUA+E+A+FUTURA+POLITICA+COMERCIAL+NORTEAMERICANA.html
Season Business Online
20/05/2008
http://epocanegocios.globo.com/Revista/Epocanegocios/0,,EDG83789-8373-15,00-ELEICOES+NOS+EUA+E+A+FUTURA+POLITICA+COMERCIAL+NORTEAMERICANA.html
Season Business Online
20/05/2008
republished in:
http://www.unicred-mt.com.br/?pg = news&id=2921
http://www.angolaxyami.com/Negocios/Eleicoes-nos-EUA-e-a-futura-politica-comercial-norte-americana.html