Resolution in Support of Deepening U.S-Georgia Trade Relations Exposed

The Resolution in Support of Deepening U.S-Georgia Trade Relations was adopted by ALEC's International Relations Task Force on August 5, 2010, approved by the ALEC Board of Directors September 19, 2010. According to ALEC.org, the Resolution was amended on January 16, 2016. (Accessed on 2/29/2016).

CMD's Bill Summary

From its 1998 resolution in support of "Fast Track" Trade Promotion Authority, which was used to push a permanent normal trading relationship with China through Congress in 2000 with little discussion or debate, to more recent resolutions in support of the proposed Colombia, Panama and Korea Free Trade Agreements, ALEC has consistently urged its members to support a radical "free trade" agenda. This free trade agenda has cost America millions of jobs as factories closed and moved overseas in search of cheaper labor. Since 2001, an estimated 2.4 million American jobs have been lost to China alone. Now a diverse array of service sector jobs, from accounting and tax preparation to health care and credit card servicing, are being off-shored under these agreements. Such free trade agreements also allow public health, consumer, environmental and worker safety rules to be challenged as "barriers to trade" in trade tribunals that operate outside the constraints of U.S. law.

ALEC has also been a major promoter of the U.S. tobacco industry, which seeks to hook new generations of smokers on their products around the world. Reynolds Tobacco was the corporate co-chair of the International Relations Task Force of ALEC. ALEC has a trade resolution specifically targeting the European ban on Snus, a moist tobacco product often marketed to the young with fruit flavors. Reynolds produces Camel Snus in four flavors and is not happy that this dangerous product is banned in most of Europe. Note that ALEC maintains a list of "International Delegates," which are elected government officials around the world.

ALEC Bill Text

Whereas, the United States and Georgia signed the Charter on Strategic Partnership in January 2009; and

Whereas, Georgia has been developing its democratic and free market institutions for over a decade; and

Whereas, Georgia's achievements have been duly appreciated by relevant international agencies and institutions; and

Whereas, Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index shows considerable positive movement for Georgia to a ranking of 66 in to 2009 from one of 133 in 2004; and

Whereas, the World Bank ranked Georgia 11 out of 183 in its Ease of Doing Business Index giving Georgia the highest ranking of all Central and Eastern European Countries; and

Whereas, Georgian municipal elections on May 30, 2010 marked an important milestone in the process of democratic transformation of Georgia and were described by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) observer mission as "transparent" and demonstrated "evident progress towards meeting international standards"; and

Whereas, Russia's invasion of Georgia in August 2008 and the subsequent worldwide economic crisis negatively affected Georgia's economy; and

Whereas, Georgia's positive economic reforms, including the privatization of state enterprises and the institution of a flat tax, have encouraged strong economic growth and foreign direct investment; and

Whereas, a Significant segment of Georgian territory remains under Russian occupation in violation of international law and the 2008 ceasefire agreement between Georgia and Russia which was mediated by French (and then EU) President Nicolas Sarkozy; and

Whereas, the U.S. firmly supports Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty as evidenced by a statement made by the White House on June 24, 2010 calling on Russia "to end its occupation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia" and

Whereas, Georgia contributes to Euro-Atlantic peace and security and participates in NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation in Afghanistan; and

Whereas, NATO agreed in the Bucharest Summit Declaration of April 2008 that Georgia will become a member of NATO; and

Whereas, strengthening U.S.-Georgia relations are in the best interest of the U.S. in terms of support of democratic developments in the region and regional security stabilization in Eastern European and Central Asian nations; and

Whereas, strong economic growth and investment would provide the optimal environment for Georgia to further strengthen its democratic institutions; and

Whereas, closer U.S. engagement with Georgia through trade negotiations would encourage even greater reform in Georgia and build its capacity to further modernize and liberalize its economy;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that ALEC calls on the Administration to further deepen the economic and trade relations with the country of Georgia and to start negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with Georgia; and

Be it further resolved, that ALEC calls on the U.S. Congress to support S.RES.136 and H.RES 414 initiating negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with the country of Georgia.

Adopted by the International Relations Task Force August, 2010.

Approved by the ALEC Board of Directors September 19, 2010.