Ways and Means Democrats Outline Environment Chapter Weaknesses in New NAFTA
In the second of a series of letters outlining specific criticisms of the new NAFTA (see 1904110062), House Ways and Means Democrats said they have questions on "whether the new Agreement will lead to meaningful improvements in standards of environmental protection, particularly in Mexico." Trade Subcommittee Chairman Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., has made environmental protection a top priority in his career in Congress.
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The letter, released April 17, noted that when trade deals do not address the environment adequately, companies move polluting operations to countries with lower environmental protections. "U.S. companies have been exporting and disposing of used lead batteries to Mexico to avoid U.S. restrictions on lead pollution," the committee members wrote.
"We are particularly disappointed that the new Agreement’s environment chapter fails to incorporate the May 10 framework requiring parties to adopt, maintain, and implement all seven of the relevant multilateral environmental agreements," they said. They also complained that the pact's standards on trade in endangered species "appear to be nowhere near equivalent to current U.S. law."