Baucus sets condition to support pact
The next chairman of the Senate Finance Committee sliced into a T-bone steak here Sunday and said he cannot support a free-trade agreement between the United States and South Korea, if South Korea does not lift restrictions on imports of U.S. beef.
"I have a beef with Korea," Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., told Korean reporters who came to Montana for the fifth round of negotiations toward a U.S.-South Korea trade agreement. "Our beef is the safest, highest quality in the world and Korea should open its market fully as soon as possible."
I stated earlier that it would be interesting to see if the US government will stand up to South Korea on this issue. I will give points to Sen. Baucus that he appears to be doing just that. This is not a surprise since Max has always worked hard for the people of Montana, I am just glad to see it.
Go Max, tell the South Koreans you mean business, The cattle industry (or at least this small segment of it) supports you.
The goal is to normalize trade relations based on sound science and consumer protection. Mike Johanns
What I've proposed might not be realistic, but I can say for certain that trade is not truly free when it's negotiated by the government.
Of course, you're right that Congress has the power to regulate trade with foreign nations and, for that matter, between states. While they aren't required to exercise that power, it's probably wise that they do in order to prevent individual states from feuding over trade issues.
From the wording of your response, Sam, I fear I may have been misunderstood. If that is the case, then I'm sorry for not making my point clear.
The point of my post was merely to point out the irony which I find in these, and other, "free-trade" negotiations. They do not result in free trade, but are instead a list of restrictions on what each country can or cannot do. And that list pretty much begins with individuals and states being restricted from direct negotiations.
I suppose that I would be more inclined to call them "fair-trade" negotiations. Even that contains a bit of irony, though, doesn't it?