/* Written 12:01 PM Jun 3, 1994 by iatp in igc:trade.news */ /* ---------- "GATT ALERT! 6-3-94" ---------- */ GATT ALERT! Friday, June 3, 1994 ___________________________________________________ HEADLINES: -Gingrich Reasserts WTO Opposition in NYT Editorial -Sneaky, Sneaky ... Canadian Gov't Begins Filing Secret GATT Case Against EU Animal Protection Law ... Another Tuna/Dolphin Case in the Works? -Sutherland -- Click Your Heels Three Times and Wish -Tax Officials Oppose GATT/WTO Preemption -Nader Calls on California Candidates to Take Stand on GATT -Textile Executive Says Budget Waiver Bad for Economy -Pro-GATT Alliance Urges Support Calls to Congress -United We Stand Sponsors GATT Protest ___________________________________________________ Gingrich Reasserts WTO Opposition in NYT Editorial House Republican Whip Newt Gingrich defended his stance on the World Trade Organization in a recent NEW YORK TIMES editorial, calling the proposed WTO a "politicized institution" with serious concerns for the U.S. Gingrich affirmed in his letter that he "strongly" supports freer trade, but said he would continue "trying to find a way to write the implementation agreement that will protect America while promoting world trade." Call Gingrich to let him know you support his efforts to draft implementation language that preserves U.S. rights within the WTO (202) 225-2800 or write the Office of the Republican Whip, Room H-219, The Capitol, Washington, D.C. 20515-0007. ___________________________________________________ Sneaky, Sneaky ... Canadian Gov't Begins Filing Secret GATT Case Against EU Animal Protection Law ... Another Tuna/Dolphin Case in the Works? Canada's Humane Society discovered recently that its government has taken secret steps to file a GATT complaint against a proposed EU directive banning the import of fur from wildlife caught in leghold traps. "The complaint filed before GATT encourages other nations to launch similar challenges," said the Humane Society's Michael O'Sullivan. "Canadians have no wish to join the ranks of those who encourage environmental damage, the drowning of dolphins, and the slaughter of elephants for ivory." Repeated federal surveys have shown that 8 out of 10 Canadians support animal protection, not the killing of wildlife to support industries such as the fur trade, which O'Sullivan said has no economic future or prospects for job creation. For more information contact Michael O'Sullivan or Barbara Turnbull at 1-800-641-KIND. ___________________________________________________ Sutherland -- Click Your Heels Three Times and Wish GATT Chief Peter Sutherland continues to praise the merits of GATT, almost daily, in a rush to secure early ratification of the Uruguay Round. During his latest GATT push, Sutherland said members' claims that the WTO would threaten nations' sovereignty are "unfounded." "The WTO's individual members are protected against the imposition of an obligation to establish trade relations under the WTO with another state on terms they do not wish to accept," he said during a speech this week. ___________________________________________________ Tax Officials Oppose GATT/WTO Preemption Sutherland should save his speech for U.S. state tax officials who lodged a new complaint Thursday claiming the WTO could invalidate state tax laws that otherwise would be acceptable under the Constitution. Officials representing the Federation of Tax Administrators and Multistate Tax Commission said during a press conference in Washington June 2 that the WTO could overturn state laws if it found "unjustified discrimination" against foreign entities. "We believe that the Constitution establishes a standard of equal treatment for foreign and domestic taxpayers alike, and the Constitution should continue to be the standard against which state laws are judged," said Dan R. Bucks, executive director of the commission. "GATT threatens to establish a second set of rules for foreign taxpayers that will favor them over U.S. tax payers." Tax officials demanded language in the GATT implementing bill to preserve states' taxing authority. For more information contact the Federation of Tax Administrators (202) 624-5890 or the Multistate Tax Commission (202) 624-8699. ___________________________________________________ Nader Calls on California Candidates to Take Stand on GATT Ralph Nader, founder of the U.S. consumer group, PUBLIC CITIZEN, is calling on California gubernatorial candidates to take a stand on GATT in light of a recent EU report threatening U.S. environmental and California laws. Laws cited by the EU as "barriers to trade" and therefore challengeable under GATT include: -Proposition 65. The California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act; -Lead Standards for Wind, Ceramics; -Glass Recycling; -Defense, Agricultural Policies; and -Unitary Tax. "California voters deserve to know where you ... stand on these California-specific laws and standards and on their vulnerability to challenge by foreign countries," Nader said in a letter to the Candidates. Nader also sent a copy of the letter to Representative Robert Matsui, who may temporarily replace Sam Gibbons as Ways and Means trade subcommittee chair, and the rest of California's congressional delegation. For a copy of the letter or more information contact Ralph Nader at (202) 387-8034. ___________________________________________________ Textile Executive Says Budget Waiver Bad for Economy "For a country worried about a return of inflation, budget waivers for GATT are a very bad idea," said Seth M. Bodner, executive director of National Knitwear & Sportswear Association. "Just how can the financial markets, or anyone else for that matter, take Congress seriously about deficit reduction if each time a hot program comes along there is a waiver?" Bodner also questioned the proposed economic benefits of GATT and challenged Congress to put its money elsewhere -- namely health care. "I would bet that the dollars spent on better health care for the [30 plus million of the medically uninsured] will in time generate more wealth for the country than the Uruguay Round," Bodner said. ___________________________________________________ Pro-GATT Alliance Urges Support Calls to Congress In the latest issue of NEWSWEEK magazine, The ALLIANCE FOR GATT NOW sponsored an ad urging readers to call U.S. lawmakers toll-free to voice support for the GATT accord. But who says you need to call with a message of support? Call your Representative or Senator direct and let them know why you oppose passage of the Uruguay Round trade agreement. Capitol Hill operator: (202) 224-3121. ___________________________________________________ United We Stand Sponsors GATT Protest UNITED WE STAND AMERICA is sponsoring a "GATT Information Wave" Saturday, June 4, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm in New York City. UNITED WE STAND AMERICA is "tremendously concerned by the threat posed by GATT to the sovereignty of the United States," says Beth Fishtein, Congressional District Co-ordinator for the group. "Our mission is to educate. You and I are the owners of this country and we have the right to know!" If you're in New York City stop by the pedestrian walkway of the George Washington Bridge (uptown side, upper level) and let yourself be heard. Call UNITED WE STAND AMERICA for more information: (212) 724-1278 or (201) 784-0210. ___________________________________________________ GATT ALERT! is published weekly by the Fair Trade Campaign. If you have news about local activities or anything else, please send a note to the Fair Trade Campaign, Box 80066, Minneapolis, MN 55408. For information on receiving GATT ALERT!, call (612) 379-5965 ___________________________________________________
