Not too long ago, CLR sent an email alerting people about the US Trade Representative Office' announcement that the Obama Administration would pursue passage of pending Free Trade Agreements with Panama and, with certain benchmarks, Colombia and South Korea. We noted that around the same time this announcement was released, the State Department had gone on record commending Colombia for progress in its human rights record. Meanwhile, the Pentagon was announcing new base-sharing measures with the Colombian military. Considering that murders of unionists and forced displacements are on the rise, we just aren't encouraged about the adequacy of these unnamed bench marks, nor the necessary judgment to even assess them. What's more, based on the devastating effect NAFTA and CAFTA has had on Mexican, Central American, and US farmers, we are also convinced that, even with improved labor conditions and environmental standards, these pending FTAs would represent an all-out assault on family, cooperative, and sustainable farms and farming communities.

Steps have been taken to move the Panama FTA forward, especially since proponents believe it would be the easiest to pass. Thus, a Panama FTA would pave the way for passage of a Colombia and South Korea FTA.

We've been hearing that behind the scenes in the halls of Congress and the White House, all parties are not of one mind about these FTAs. The World Trade Online reports that:

"Assistant USTR for the Americas Everett Eissenstat...signaled that the administration would only send up the Panama FTA once assured that it would receive broad support that would create forward momentum to pass more controversial trade deals, such as the U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement. "

....One pro-FTA source said movement on the Panama FTA is at this point driven by the White House, which is "just not prepared for the pain" that comes with moving a trade agreement through Congress."

Nevertheless, the Obama Administration has not rescinded its commitment to pursuing these FTAs and the article goes on to show that the White House plans action on the Panama FTA for the Fall. However, FTA advocates, including a number of leading figures in the Democratic Party, are pressing for passage of the Panama FTA before the new government there takes office in July.

Our efforts to beat these FTAs are having an effect--but the struggle is far from over. The reason these neoliberal agreements are in jeopardy is because, in this time of Capitalism in crisis, economic and political powers fear the firestorm that these FTAs might touch off. The "Battle in Seattle" of a previous generation could become the "Fire that Will Not Abate in the United States"!

The Campaign for Labor Rights doesn't want to see chaos in the streets. What we want to see is an end to anti-worker FTAs and an end to senseless wars so that our country can focus on the kinds of tasks we really need to take care of: health care for all, decent schools, good jobs, fair trade, and environmental restoration!

We've got these Free Traders on the run right now. Yes--momentum is on our side! But if we don't keep up the noise and demand an end to these neoliberal schemes, these FTAs will be pushed through. Now is the time to raise our voices! CLR has outlined three steps you can take to help stop these FTAs and demand that the government use its resources to help working families and farming communities-not subject them to the assaults of big agribusiness and transnational corporate greed!