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Overseas trade a tug of war for Washington state

By LES BLUMENTHAL | McClatchy Newspapers • Published July 22, 2007

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"There is no silver bullet, no one set of skills that guarantees you a job forever," Smith said. "But there is a lot more we can be doing for workers."

Washington lawmakers have generally been staunch supporters of free trade, though their support is now tempered with a growing touch of skepticism. Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., recently opposed an extension of the Andean Trade Preference Act, saying the agreement would have a "devastating impact" on Washington asparagus growers.

Smith is no stranger to the politics of trade, having previously been caught between some of Washington state's largest corporations and the more than 50,000 union members in his district. Five years ago, Microsoft Corp. pulled out of a fundraiser 24 hours after Smith had voted against a controversial trade bill.

Four trade agreements are pending - with South Korea, Panama, Peru and Colombia. The agreements were negotiated and signed when the president still had fast-track trade promotion authority, which bars Congress from making any changes. Once the administration submits enabling legislation, Congress has 60 days to vote.

"The United States must be in the game and not on the sidelines as other nations negotiate deals that disadvantage our businesses, farmers, ranchers and service providers," U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said in urging Congress to renew the president's fast-track authority.

But the now Democrat--controlled Congress has shown little interest in acting, and trade critics say the administration has still not done enough to include labor and environmental safeguards along with tough enforcement provisions in the agreements.

"The big debate over fast track was the 2006 election, and the American public gave a resounding 'no' to the Bush administration's trade agenda," said Lori Wallach of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch.

Of the four pending trade agreements, the one with South Korea is the most important for Washington state, and the most controversial on Capitol Hill. It's the state's fifth largest market, worth about $2.5 billion annually and growing quickly.