I'm not being snarky. I really don't know what his position is. I hunted around his web site and all I could find were plans to "renegotiate" the deal. Renegotiate what, specifically?
I hunted around Clinton's site and found this statement. Clinton plans to:
- Strengthen the labor/environmental provisions;
- No longer permit foreign companies to sue US governments in NAFTA tribunals;
- Strengthen the enforcement provisions;
- Review the deal regularly.
As it happens, I don't think this is anywhere near enough. But at least we have some idea what Clinton's position is now - even if it has changed drastically from the policies of her husband's administration.
I don't think the US should withdraw from NAFTA, but any new deal should include the following provisions;
- Mexico must raise its school-leaving age to 16 (now 14). One reason wages are so low is the low skill level of its workers.
- Mexico must reduce its corruption. The methods used by the European Union to admit Eastern European countries could be used as a model.
- Companies should not be permitted to sue governments, but unions and civil groups should be allowed to sue companies in NAFTA tribunals, without having to wait for action from their governments.
- Mexico must allow industrial plants to accept labor/environmental inspections from the ILO or another labor body. Mexico can be hit with retaliatory tariffs if it does not enforce its labor/environmental laws.
- The US must fund the border-cleanup program as provided for in the original deal.
- The US must cease its subsidies to corn and other staple farmers. Under NAFTA, subsidized American agri-businesses are driving Mexican farmers out of business. This is the hardest one as it will have fierce opposition from farm-state congressmen.
- The US should abide by NAFTA as written. On the US-Canada softwood lumber dispute, the Canadians are right and the US should accept this.
How about it? Does anyone know what Obama's specifics are, from speeches or writings? If so, I'd like to hear it.