Globalization Hurts USA

With the US economy in a slump, American labor leaders are calling for a change in US trade policy. John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, the largest union in America, argues that globalization, at least as it relates to trade policy, has failed both working Americans and poor workers in developing countries. Because world trade agreements encourage American manufacturing companies to take their jobs overseas, Americans are left with fewer job opportunities, he asserts. Sweeney cites recent polls that show that a majority of Americans believe “the United States needs to focus on keeping American jobs for American workers." He appeals to the Bush administration to keep the US steel industry healthy by strengthening steel safeguards, which have "stabilized" world steel prices. – YaleGlobal