Local lawmakers back changes in trade pact

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The proposed legislation, co-sponsored by Jeff Duncan, Mike Pitts and Adam Taylor among others, urges Congress and President Bush to take another look at the North American Free Trade Agreement, the 10-year-old federal program that critics say has cost South Carolina thousands of jobs.

"If we can get this through, we can send a signal for (Congress and Bush) to look at these policies," Duncan said. "If we can renegotiate, we'll be in a better position to bring more jobs."

Residents familiar with the NAFTA controversy say they support efforts to re-examine the program if it translates into more jobs.

"I'm all for that if it'll help bring jobs," said Tammy Smith, a county resident who works for the U.S. Postal Service.

"I don't know anyone personally who has lost their job, but I know there are a lot of people who did," she said.

Shawn Hughes said that while NAFTA can't take the entire blame for the job drain, "it certainly isn't helping."

"What they're doing couldn't hurt," Hughes said. "I would support something like that."

Pitts and Duncan announced the legislative effort Monday from the Laurens County Courthouse. Duncan said the announcement was made in Laurens instead of Columbia because of the number of jobs that have been lost in the county over the past several years.

Hundreds of jobs were lost with the closing of several industries — including textile plants — over a two-year period. Last summer the county's unemployment rate reached 12 percent, among the highest in the state.

Duncan said more than 40,000 jobs were lost in the state last year, with more than 19,000 of those in manufacturing.

The proposed resolution states that NAFTA was created to remove trade barriers on most goods produced in North America, "but the actual impact is that factories have closed and moved to other countries where the average wage is lower."

Greenville County legislators Louis Vaughn and Robert Leach are also sponsoring the legislation, along with Spartanburg Rep. Joe Mahaffey. All three are Republicans.

NAFTA was signed by then President Bill Clinton a decade ago, with the promise of creating more jobs in the United States while improving wages in Mexico and increasing trade opportunities in Canada. But detractors say it has hastened the elimination of manufacturing jobs.

Laurens County has rebounded somewhat from the job losses, most recently with the announcement that Sterilite, a plastics manufacturer and distributor, will build a large distribution center near Clinton and eventually employ 600 workers.

Legislators are asking residents to support their effort by writing other state legislators, members of Congress and the president.

The bill is currently in committee and is expected to go to the full House later this week.

"Bottom line: I just want to see my people back at work so they can provide for their families," Pitts said.