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Greg J. Mastel’s practice at international law firm Akin Gump focuses on the formulation and implementation of international trade and tax policy by Congress and the executive branch. He advises and represents clients regarding trade and tax legislation and related regulatory developments such as free trade negotiations and trade disputes. Before joining Akin Gump, Mastel served from 2000 to 2003 as the chief economist and chief international trade adviser to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.
The TAA Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving TAA's effectiveness.
With the economy slowing, the trade gap growing and more U.S. jobs going to cheaper labor overseas, it is no surprise that Americans are growing wary of efforts to expand trade globally. Protectionism often rears its head in difficult economic times. But most economists warn that attempts to protect U.S. industries and workers eventually may backfire and do more harm than good to them and the economy as a whole. U.S. businesses could lose access to promising overseas markets and prices could rise on all types of goods if imports slow on cheaper products.
Greg J. Mastel, who once was the top staff trade expert on the Senate Finance Committee and is now with international law firm Akin Gump, argues that trade could be made far more acceptable to the public by simply ensuring that workers displaced by trade agreements are given a helping hand. "Funds invested in such an initiative could thus benefit not only displaced workers but also the entire economy by increasing the ability of the United States -- and other democratic governments -- to adopt trade liberalization," Mastel says of trade adjustment assistance (TAA) programs.
In an article for the TAA Coalition, Mastel outlines the weaknesses of the current TAA programs and the potential benefits of shoring it up. "There are concrete policy options available to address the performance and the public's lack of confidence in free trade agreements.
POSTED BY: madmilker (August 04, 2007 12:22 AM)
if jobs don't move....there will never be the need for government to step in and train anyone!
So what if price of items go up...if the wages go up the items will cost the same as the percentage of payroll! Just who started this "cheap crap" is a good thing anyway! a dang meat cutter was making $18 an hour in 1989 and now make $9. But I think "we the people" is about to change all that cause the pen in their hand marking a ballot is worth more than all the money the greedy people can park in a bank!
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