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Canada-China trade deal will hurt Canadian steel workers: union
THE United Steelworkers (USW) is warning that if the Canadian government signs a trade deal with China, local workers will be hurt.
"The government's claim of setting a 'progressive' trade agenda whitewashes the potentially devastating impact of the Canada-China trade deal it is pursuing," said USW national director Ken Neumann.
"It is not currently in Canada's interest to pursue a free trade agreement with China," Mr Neumann stated in the USW's submission to Global Affairs Canada as part of public consultations on a Canada-China trade deal.
"The USW asserts that negotiating a trade agreement with China would inevitably require that Canada compromise the national interest. We believe that it is Canada's workers who will suffer most," Mr Neumann said.
"China has consistently shown itself to be a violator of global trade rules and norms," including "illegal dumping of unfairly subsidised steel and other products that have harmed Canadian workers and communities," said the union statement.
"Opening Canadian steel markets further to China's state-led exporters will only further decimate what is left of the Canadian steel sector as well as other important industries, including aluminum, paper, glass and auto parts," Mr Neumann said.
Before proceeding with any new trade negotiations, the Canadian government must "clearly detail the specific components, principles and provisions which make up what it has called its 'progressive trade agenda,'" Mr Neumann said.
"We urge the government to conduct a balanced, honest and comprehensive feasibility study which includes not just growth estimates, but also sectoral and distributional projections as well as human rights, labour and environmental impact assessments," he added.
"The government's claim of setting a 'progressive' trade agenda whitewashes the potentially devastating impact of the Canada-China trade deal it is pursuing," said USW national director Ken Neumann.
"It is not currently in Canada's interest to pursue a free trade agreement with China," Mr Neumann stated in the USW's submission to Global Affairs Canada as part of public consultations on a Canada-China trade deal.
"The USW asserts that negotiating a trade agreement with China would inevitably require that Canada compromise the national interest. We believe that it is Canada's workers who will suffer most," Mr Neumann said.
"China has consistently shown itself to be a violator of global trade rules and norms," including "illegal dumping of unfairly subsidised steel and other products that have harmed Canadian workers and communities," said the union statement.
"Opening Canadian steel markets further to China's state-led exporters will only further decimate what is left of the Canadian steel sector as well as other important industries, including aluminum, paper, glass and auto parts," Mr Neumann said.
Before proceeding with any new trade negotiations, the Canadian government must "clearly detail the specific components, principles and provisions which make up what it has called its 'progressive trade agenda,'" Mr Neumann said.
"We urge the government to conduct a balanced, honest and comprehensive feasibility study which includes not just growth estimates, but also sectoral and distributional projections as well as human rights, labour and environmental impact assessments," he added.
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