Manchin Statement Opposing Free Trade Deals
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D.W.Va.) issued the following statement in advance of voting against the Colombia, Panama and Korea free trade agreements in the Senate tonight.
“With a jobs crisis in this country, we need to do everything in our power to create jobs here in America – and that starts with keeping the jobs we have, not sending them to other countries,” Senator Manchin said. “We have done enough exporting jobs, and it’s time to rebuild America. If we want to save 214,000 jobs, we can do it right now – by opposing these three trade deals. West Virginians have already lost enough of their jobs because other countries don’t compete fairly with America, and with our country struggling, we can’t afford to lose a single job, let alone 214,000. I am totally opposed to agreements that trade good American jobs for no jobs, and I have yet to see a free trade bill that is a fair trade bill. At a time when we need to create jobs here in America, I believe the President is dead wrong on these bills, which is why I oppose all of them.”
Background:
The Economic Policy Institute estimates that the free trade agreements considered today will result in 214,000 jobs being lost or displaced.
In September, Senator Manchin voted in favor of Trade Adjustment Assistance for American workers who lose their jobs because of trade. His statement on that legislation is available here.
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