Edwards says NAFTA can be fixed [View All]

[maddezmom]

By MONI BASU
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/25/04

Campaigning for a second day in Georgia, John Edwards defended his position on international trade Tuesday, saying the North American Free Trade Agreement he often criticizes can be made to work if it is revised to include labor and environmental standards.

In Ohio, front-runner John Kerry also addressed the trade issue, telling metal workers that, if elected, he would intervene in trade arrangements to try to stem foreign nations' illegal dumping of subsidized products.

Both men cautioned that international trade can't be stopped, only made fairer.

Utah, Idaho and Hawaii held caucuses and primaries on Tuesday. But Kerry and Edwards spent their time in states that are among the 10 participating in next week's Super Tuesday voting, when the biggest haul of delegates yet this campaign season will be at stake.

In an interview with Atlanta Journal-Constitution editors, Edwards — who distinguishes himself from Kerry as opposing most trade deals the Massachusetts senator has favored — said international trade is a necessity.

"It would be foolish to stick our head in the sand and pretend that there's not going to be trade and pretend we don't live in a global economy," said Edwards, a senator from North Carolina. "I do believe there are things we can do with these trade agreements to allow American workers to be more competitive."

more: http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/election/0204nation/25edwards.html