Posted by Tina
There are several things that are killers when it comes to business (and jobs) but three are high on the list: high taxes, excessive regulation and a lousy trade policy. After Democrats took control of the Congress a trade deal with Columbia was allowed to wither on the vine. Canada has made a deal with Columbia. Now a new report in the Wall Street Journal reveals that the Columbian trade agreement delay may have involved more than political jousting with the Bush administration:
“America Leaves Itself Behind – A world of trade deals without the U.S.” – WSJ
At least 266 bilateral or regional trade deals are in force, according to the World Trade Organization, and there are roughly 100 more of which the WTO has not yet been formally informed. The U.S. is a party to only five of the 64 trade pacts that have taken effect since 2005–with Australia, Morocco, Bahrain, Oman and Peru. ** But when the U.S. sits on the sidelines, the rest of the world is going to find its own trading way, however imperfect. ** A start to getting the U.S. back in the game would be for Congress to ratify the pending deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. Mr. Obama and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk need to rethink their emphasis on trade “enforcement,” which is code for introducing higher barriers, and instead renew the push for more deals. Mr. Obama could also become a leading voice pushing for progress on Doha. Especially as other countries expand their own trading opportunities, the costs of Washington dithering are growing every day.
Is there anything this adminstration and the crazed agenda driven democrats in power will do to help businesses thrive? It appears not. Do they want Americans to be successful? Sadly, it appears not.