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路州首府Baton Rouge報紙The Advocate刊出有關FTA社論原文

(07/13/2010)

路易斯安那州首府Baton Rouge辯護報(The Advocate)，以「貿易協定有助景氣回升」為題，支持歐巴馬總統爭取國會批准美國與南韓、哥倫比亞和巴拿馬簽署的自由貿易協定(FTA)。

社論呼籲歐巴馬政府，勿忘民主盟友台灣；應克服政治上的困難，尋求與民主之島、也是亞洲經濟要角的台灣簽署FTA。

以下為社論中譯文：

標題：

社論：貿易協議有助景氣回升

金融危機使經濟癱瘓係全球現象。但好消息是，歐巴馬總統已經承認，美國應與各國發展更多貿易以振興世界經濟。

繼早先承諾與南韓簽訂自由貿易協議之後，歐巴馬總統再於週三表示將推動與哥倫比亞及巴拿馬自貿協議的核定工作。

自由貿易協議降低兩國間關稅及其他貿易障礙。雖然協議使簽約的兩方同蒙其利，但國會中一些民主黨人士卻對前布希總統時期洽談的自貿協議表示反對。

歐巴馬總統提出，在自由貿易上我們不應採取「我們對抗他們」這種對立態度。

「長久以來，我們陷入謬誤的政治辯論裏，認為企業和勞工是對立的。」「現在我們有機會重新界定，我們是站在同一條船上的。」

貿易是歐巴馬與共和黨有共議的領域。

眾議員Charles Boustany稍早曾呼籲行政部門，推動爭取貿易協議獲國會核准通過。他在與「倡導者報」的編輯群會面時表示，自由貿易中的「不需成本的振興貿易，將使經濟受益」。

代表路易斯安那州的Boustany議員指出，更多的自由貿易協議有利於位居外銷龍頭的路州。

雖然有政治上的困難，但我們希望歐巴馬總統貫徹他的主張。而且他不應只與南韓簽貿易協議，他亦應尋求與台灣簽訂自貿協議，台灣係位居中國海岸之外的民主之島，且係亞洲經濟要角。

或許持傳統主張的人士會認為，雙邊貿易協議比不上全球貿易總協議，他們雖然是對的，然而，在全球貿易談判總是觸礁情形下，協商一個全球自由貿易總協議談何容易。

自貿協議是使美國與其貿易伙伴蒙利的方法，總統支持的立場是對的。

以下為The Advocate社論原文：

Our views: Trade pacts help recovery

• Advocate Opinion page staff

• Published: Jul 12, 2010

The financial shocks that disabled the world economy were a global phenomenon. In good news for recovery, President Barack Obama now recognizes that the United States ought to be encouraging more trade to lift the world economy.

Following up on an earlier promise on the South Korean free-trade agreement, Obama said Wednesday that he also would push for approval of separate free-trade agreements with Colombia and Panama.

The agreements reduce tariffs and other trade barriers between the countries involved. Despite the economic benefits for both nations in each pact, some Democrats in Congress have opposed the treaties negotiated during the administration of President George W. Bush.

A characteristic Obama theme, that we should not be in constant us-against-them mode in political life, was struck by the president on free trade — something he’d been critical of on the campaign trail, where he pandered to anti-trade union sentiments.

“For a long time, we were trapped in a false political debate in this country, where business was on one side and labor was on the other,” Obama said at a White House event highlighting the administration’s efforts to promote exports. “What we now have an opportunity to do is to refocus our attention where we’re all in it together.”

Trade is one area in which Obama can make common cause with even his vociferous Republican opposition.

In a meeting with editors of The Advocate, U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, earlier called on the administration to push for approval of the trade pacts. He said the “cost-free stimulus” of more trade would benefit the economy.

Boustany represents southwestern Louisiana, where the important Port of Lake Charles is situated, but his remarks are relevant to all the ports in Louisiana. More free-trade agreements would be good for Louisiana’s position as an export leader.

We hope Obama will follow through, despite the political difficulties. He should not stop at South Korea, as important a trade partner as that nation is. He also should seek a free-trade pact with Taiwan, the island democracy and major Asia economic player off the coast of the mainland.

Purists will argue that these bilateral trade pacts aren’t as good as a general agreement on world trade. The purists are right. However, it’s been so difficult to negotiate a general deal that international trade talks regularly deadlock.

Free-trade agreements are a way to gain benefits between the United States and its partners. The president is right to support them.

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