Resolution on Open and Reciprocal Trade with Canada Exposed

The Resolution on Open and Reciprocal Trade with Canada does not include information on when it was adopted or endorsed. ALEC has attempted to distance itself from this piece of legislation after the launch of ALECexposed.org in 2011, but it has done nothing to get it repealed in the states where it previously pushed for it to be made into law.

CMD's Bill Summary

From its 1998 resolution in support of Fast Track Trade Negotiating 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 is the corporate co-chair of ALEC’s International Relations Task Force. This trade resolution specifically targets the European Union 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 Canada are the largest trading partners in the world; and

WHEREAS, ALEC recognizes this and promotes free, open and reciprocal trade as it will strengthen the economies of both nations; and

WHEREAS, trade between the United States and Canada supports 7.1 million American jobs, including nearly 1.5 million in the Midwest; and

WHEREAS, it is important that the U.S. and Canada maintain their commitment to keeping their respective markets open and accessible to Canadian and American producers of goods and services as this advances the goal of North American competitiveness and will help strengthen the economic structure within both countries;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that state and provincial governments should adopt open procurement policies between our two countries;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that ALEC will undertake concerted efforts to build regional awareness and appreciation for the mutual benefits of the open two-way trade system that exists between Canada and the United States;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution will be submitted to appropriate federal, state and provincial officials.