USW’s Gerard Describes Nation’s Trade Ills

CSpan host Pedro Echevarria interviews USW International President Leo W. Gerard on international trade after a Congressional hearing last month in which U.S. steel  manufacturers and USW Vice President Tom Conway described devastation caused by foreign steel dumped at artificially low prices in the U.S. market.

Gerard discusses the impact of dumping and unsanctioned, unfair trade on companies, communities and workers. Gerard then answers questions about trade violations from callers across the country. He talks about the need to change laws that require U.S. companies and workers to suffer substantial, and sometimes irreversible, losses before the government will impose tariffs to restrict imports from countries violating international trade regulations.  

During the Q&A session, the host Pedro Echevarria  presses Gerard on several issues. At about minute 25, he asks Gerard what the nation should do to resolve the problem of dumping. At minute 27, he asks about the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on both American and Mexican workers. And at minute 45, he asks Gerard if he believes Congress will approve fast track authority and the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement now being negotiated with pacific rim countries. Under fast track, Congress would give the TPP an up or down vote while relinquishing its responsibility to supervise international trade by barring itself from amending any part of the agreement. Gerard says he believes fast track will fail.