Amerikansk protektionism

Den växande amerikanska protektionismen brukar jag regelbundet varna för. Dags igen idag. New York Times har en intressant och oroande artikel om stämningarna i kongressen med anledning av de två stora frihandelsavtalen (TPP och TTIP) som nu är föremål för förhandling. Jag tror inte det är fel att säga att den debatten i hög grad handlar om USAs roll i världen:

The bruising battle over President Obama’s push for the power to negotiate two potentially far-reaching trade pacts will shift this week to the House, where the White House faces entrenched opposition from Democrats and the stirring of rebellion from the Republicans’ right flank. (—)

With organized labor, environmental groups and liberal advocacy organizations like MoveOn.org opposed to the bill, Democratic leaders say they are in no position to deliver votes for Republican leaders, even if their own standard-bearer in the White House is adamantly behind the measure as well. The A.F.L.-C.I.O. began running attack ads against one Democrat, Representative Ami Bera of California, who came out for trade promotion authority and who has twice used union muscle to eke out narrow victories in his swing district. Less pointed pressure ads are going up in 17 other Democratic districts.