Trade deals must protect workers, environment-Obama

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.forexpros.com/news/forex-news/update-1-trade-deals-must-protect-workers,-environment-obama-15756

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The United States will insist on strong protections for workers and the environment in future trade deals, President-elect Barack Obama said on Friday as he introduced his nominee to be chief U.S. trade negotiator.

Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk "will help make sure that any agreement I sign as president protects the rights of all workers, promotes the interests of all Americans, strengthens American businesses, and preserves the planet we all share," Obama said at a news conference in Chicago.

The focus on what Kirk described as a "values-driven" trade agenda is a nod to labor groups who helped elect Obama and have fought many losing battles against trade deals that they believe encourage U.S. companies to move jobs overseas.

Obama has promised one of his first acts as president would be to call the president of Mexico and prime minister of Canada to begin negotiations to "fix NAFTA" by adding stronger labor and environmental provisions.

But Obama's stance could complicate efforts to complete the seven-year-old Doha round of world trade talks if it means the United States will be adding new demands to those already difficult negotiations.

Many developing countries are suspicious of efforts to include binding labor and environmental provisions in trade pacts because they believe they could be used by rich countries as an excuse to block imports.

FULL story at link.