Senator says he seeks to work with White House on trade issue

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said on Wednesday that he has been hosting roundtables with Ohio workers on renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement and released an update on his four-point plan to secure what he says will be the best deal for American workers.

“American jobs shouldn’t be up for negotiation, and American workers can’t be traded away as bargaining chips,” Brown said in a conference call with reporters. “Over the past few weeks, I’ve held roundtables with workers across Ohio to get their input and hear what they believe trade policy should look like. By setting high standards, putting workers ahead of corporations, and refusing to compromise on outsourcing, we can create the best possible deal for all American workers.”

Brown, who has been long been an advocate for organized labor on the issue of foreign trade deals, voted against NAFTA as well as permanent Normalized Trade Relations with China in the 1990s.

He said he has reached out to President Donald Trump, who campaigned on the need to renegotiate NAFTA, to work with him on the issue.

“I really hope that President Trump is serious about giving NAFTA the boot,” Brown said, noting that he has spoken with Trump on the issue of Buy America since his inauguration.

While he said he has been disappointed in Trump reneging on a campaign pledge to label China a currency manipulator, he says he remains optimistic that he can work with the president on fulfilling his NAFTA pledge.

“I’m hopeful he does what he promised,” Brown said.

Brown said his plan outlines new strategies that the U.S. has not used in negotiations over past trade deals.

First, he calls on the White House to secure commitments from Mexico and Canada on anti-outsourcing provisions and Buy America protections before beginning negotiations. He said he has also spoken with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, as well as Trump’s trade representatives on the issue.

Second, he urges the administration to develop individualized negotiation strategies for manufacturing sectors that have been hurt by outsourcing. He said the goal is to ensure that American workers aren’t pitted against each other as bargaining chips in a negotiation.

Next, Brown said any new deal must include more meaningful enforcement mechanisms for American workers and do away with special courts that allow multi-national corporations to undermine U.S. laws and take advantage of American workers.

Finally, Brown said the administration must be inclusive and transparent throughout the negotiations to ensure American workers and consumers have an equal seat at the table with multi-national corporations.

Brown noted that he has been in opposition to previous presidents of both parties on the issue of trade deals.

He was joined on the call by Rich Crayon, a member of UAW Local 12 who participated in the senator’s roundtable in Toledo.

“If we do not improve current and future trade agreements and secure manufacturing jobs in the U.S., there won’t be any Americans left to purchase the products,” Crayon said.