Date: October 19, 2007
Situation: Polk Co. (IA) Democrats Fall Harvest & Auction – Handshake Line
Question: Sen. Biden was asked if he would commit to oppose Bush’s new trade agreements.
Answer: He replied that he was not in favor of trade the way we’ve been doing it, that we need to have enforceable labor and environmental standards in any trade deal. He said that’s he’s a good friend of labor and knows how bad trade as currently practiced has been for working people. However, he said, any candidate who tells you they’re going to bring back the steel industry is lying you.
Follow Up: So you are going to support Bush’s expansions of unfair trade rules to Colombia, Korea…?
Answer: No, I’m not. I’m going to vote against those new NAFTAs and against the Peru & Panama deals too. They’re not good enough and the American people, and the American worker deserve better.
