FTAA Passes

[jresta]

So the FTAA passed - albeit a watered down version. NAFTA is now extended to the entire western hemisphere. No labor standards, no environmental standards, no human rights clauses. Just trade. Only Venezuela objected.

Thoughts?

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/7315661.htm

 

[H]

FTAA Light?!

It is a joke. It allows countries to “opt out” of items they don’t want to follow. What kind of agreement is that? And sure, who would not agree to that. Successful my ___.

However, I still have not made up my mind which side I stand on here, so I guess this outcome is a better temporary one than a concrete strict outcome leaning one way or another.

 

[BKM]

Oh well. No country needs a middle class, anyway.

 

[jresta]

Re: FTAA Light?!

It is a joke. It allows countries to “opt out” of items they don’t want to follow. What kind of agreement is that? And sure, who would not agree to that. Successful my ___.

However, I still have not made up my mind which side I stand on here, so I guess this outcome is a better temporary one than a concrete strict outcome leaning one way or another.

Yeah, I have to agree here, if the South American countries can pull off getting the human contingencies in there it could be a positive. I'm reserving final judgement until after the next round of talks. If it turns out to be like NAFTA, though, this could be disastrous for our economy - well, the economy will do well most of the people in it won't.