Trade

International trade policies such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have wreaked havoc on the economy of WNC in recent years. I strongly opposed the NAFTA agreement with Mexico and Canada because of my belief that NAFTA would degrade the quality of life which is made possible by our health, safety and environmental laws and would cost thousands of U.S. jobs. Unfortunately, this belief was well-founded: since its passage, NAFTA has devastated numerous industries and regional economies -- such as the textile manufacturing industry in WNC -- by encouraging many companies to move their operations to Mexico, attracted by cheaper labor and less stringent environmental regulations. Western North Carolina has more than shared in this economic loss, as several major employers have closed plants and laid off workers in our area. One of my primary responsibilities as Representative of the Eleventh District is to attract job opportunities to our region; NAFTA has made this goal infinitely more difficult. I will continue to strongly oppose the expansion or NAFTA, as well as the ratification of similarly devastating trade policies.

During the previous Congress, I signed on as an original cosponsor of H.Con.Res.224. This legislation, although nonbinding, urges the President to withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement. Although this legislation was not considered during the previous Congress, you can be assured that I will certainly sign on as a cosponsor if it is reintroduced in the 109th Congress. I believe that passage of this bill would send a strong message that we will no longer accept unfair trade practices that send our jobs overseas. In the past two years, I voted against legislation that would have expanded trade with Singapore and Chile, as well as free trade agreements with Morocco and Australia.

Committee Website

House Ways and Means Committee

Related Documents:

Press Release - Rep. Taylor Votes Against Oman Free Trade Agreement 7.20.2006

Press Release - Rep. Taylor Announces Pro-Apple Decision By ITC 9.21.2005

Speeches and Statements - Statement on CAFTA vote 7.28.2005

Press Release - Incorrect Vote Recorded for Rep. Taylor on DR-CAFTA 7.28.2005

Press Release - Rep. Taylor Announces Opposition to CAFTA 7.14.2005


More Documents...

Related Files:

Rep Taylor's Trade Voting Record