-Rahall Votes to Withdraw United States from WTO-

U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) joined more than eighty of his Democrat and Republican colleagues this week in voting to withdraw the United States from the World Trade Organization (WTO). "While the whole world reaps economic and security benefits from the blood, sweat, and tears of American workers, the unfair trade regime continues to draw up agreements and policies that hurt America's most precious resource: our labor force. Without which, no other resources could be utilized," said Rahall.

The bill Rahall voted in favor of would have withdrawn the approval of Congress for the establishment of the WTO, thereby withdrawing the United States from the WTO. Speaking of his vote, Rahall stressed, "I feel it is my duty to stand up to the WTO because of their position on working men and women. For instance last year the WTO stated that ‘unions are one of the main obstacles' to international trade. Our workforce is what makes international trade possible. We should embrace our workers, not shun them."

Since it's founding in 1995, the WTO has reached decisions which many feel are detrimental to the American worker. Adding insult to the consequences of unfair WTO policies is the fact that this trade organization reaches decisions in an undemocratic fashion.

"The United Mine Workers of America have fought for the health, safety and general welfare of the coal miner," Rahall said. "While China may reap benefits from international trade policies put forth by the WTO, no one should want to trade away the benefits the unions have gained for our workers. The WTO has tried to dictate the fates of working men and women of West Virginia and our Great Nation, and I will not stand for this."

1995 was the last year the U.S. trade deficit was under $100 billion. And today, due in part to continued disastrous trade policies set forth in part by the WTO, the U.S. deficit now stands at a whopping $617 billion. In addition, our trade policy exported 1.5 million jobs to China and over 800,000 jobs to Mexico. Altogether, we've lost 2.8 million manufacturing jobs and 1 million high technology jobs over the last four years.

Rahall concluded, "The WTO has hurt our labor force by forcing companies to seek cheaper labor abroad. Sooner or later these deficits and losses could sweep our Country off its feet, leaving China and Mexico free to do as they please with our jobs. That's why I've decided to reassess our presence in the WTO and that's why I've voted to withdraw approval of the agreement that put us in there in the first place."