Washington, DC – Today, Mr. Trump signed an executive order that outlines his administration’s plan to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Having opposed the trade agreement since its inception, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) welcomes the withdrawal from TPP, but remains vigilant for additional executive orders that would severely impact the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and other allied communities.

APALA National President Johanna Puno Hester and Assistant Executive Director of the United Domestic Workers, AFSCME Local 3930 commented: “Bad trade agreements, like the TPP and NAFTA, have too long put profits over working people. The TPP could have devastating ramifications for working families in the U.S. and even more workers in the global economy, so we’re naming this a victory for working people who fought against the TPP even before Trump’s campaign.”

“We’re tired of trade policy that benefits the 1% and hurts working and middle class families. As an organization dedicated to economic justice, we want fair trade, and we’re not going to get that with TPP,” said APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana. “However, we also can’t let this one win eclipse other policies that will likely be at the cost of people of color and other marginalized communities, and we remain watchful for policies that will be harmful for ours and allied communities.”

In addition to the executive order withdrawing from TPP, Mr. Trump also signed two more orders to freeze federal hires, and to ban federal funding for foreign organizations that provide or promote abortion services.

Monica Thammarath, APALA 1st Vice President and Senior Liaison at the National Education Association added: “The ‘global gag rule’ seriously threatens access to reproductive healthcare and will no doubt increase dangerous and unsafe abortions worldwide. This is a slap in the face to the millions of women and allies who protested last weekend during the Women’s March, one of the largest worldwide demonstrations in history.”
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“Today’s executive orders are just the beginning of a treacherous path that we know will threaten the safety of and curb the rights of our communities here and abroad,” Hester concluded. “But don’t doubt that we will resist, organize and fight back.”

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Washington D.C. - More than 30 organizations representing a broad coalition of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) organizations urged Congress to oppose Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Fast Track legislation, also known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), was introduced on April 16, 2015 and will be considered by the Senate soon. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) and other members of the AAPI community are part of a movement of workers, environmentalists, people of faith, consumers and allies to simply say No to Fast Track.

Immediately following the introduction of TPA, the coalition sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker of the House John Boehner, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The groups wrote, “We are very concerned about the unprecedented level of secrecy that negotiations have been conducted in. Leaked texts have shown that the fast-tracking of sweeping trade agreements like the TPP will have serious implications for AAPI workers and families.”

APALA-DC Chapter President Jenny Ho said, “Like NAFTA, the TPP will hurt workers across borders and create a global race to the bottom. Companies will be given more power to move production and operations, undermining the labor movement in both the U.S. and across Asia.”

“Workers are skeptical of trade agreements because of outsourced work and the erosion of good-paying jobs, and a large majority of workers have not heard about the TPP. The vast scope and content of the TPP shouldn't be kept from the public—or the representatives they elect in Congress,” Darren Shiroma, member of the APALA National Executive Board representing the Communications Workers of America (CWA) added, “With the secrecy of the TPP and the fast-tracking rail it's on, it's no surprise that every union and a broad coalition of organizations have locked arms to take a stand against it.”

Some of the AAPI organizations that joined APALA in the letter to oppose Fast Track and the TPP include: Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Boat People SOS, National Asian Pacific American Student Coalition of the United States Student Association, National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance and the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.

“It’s clear that opposition for Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership is growing,” APALA National President Johanna Puno Hester stated, “The TPP is bad for our economy, will cost the U.S. jobs, and reward governments who suppress the rights of women, religious minorities and members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. It’s clear for us that we must stop fast track and the TPP. APALA will continue to mobilize our members and partners to ensure our voices are heard in Congress.”

​For a full copy of the letter and a factsheet on how the Trans-Pacific Partnership will negatively impact the AAPI community, please click here: http://www.apalanet.org/no-on-fast-track-andtrans-pacific-partnership 

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Washington, DC: While President Obama visits Asian countries this week to promote the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) urges caution. “We know that opening up Asian markets, particularly along the Asian Rim, as well as establishing a US regional presence via the Asian Pivot, is an important priority for this administration,” said APALA National President and Special Assistant to Executive Director of UDW/AFSCME Local 3930, Johanna Hester. “However, we are distressed about hearing about the lack of focus on workers’ rights in TPP discussions, and very concerned about the unprecedented level of secrecy that negotiations have been conducted in.”

“We’re tired of trade policy that benefits the 1% and hurts working and middle class families,” added Gregory Cendana, Executive Director of APALA. “It’s time that trade policy worked for the average American worker. We want fair trade, not free trade. We want domestic job creation, not more job outsourcing. We’re not going to get that with fast-tracked trade deals that benefit Wall Street.”

APALA is concerned about workers’ rights violations in some Asian countries, as well as protecting workers’ rights in the US. To make sure workers benefit from the TPP, APALA believes the public needs to see what’s proposed. Instead, Congress has been urged to fast-track the biggest global trade deal in world history with language that’s kept secret from the very body authorized to set trade policy – Congress. If TPP is fast-tracked, neither Congress nor the American people will be able to voice concerns or add any pro-worker language.

“Who will benefit from such a secretive deal that was shaped not by Congress, but by 600 corporate lobbyists behind closed doors? Corporate interests designed this deal that will hugely alter and impact domestic and global policies and have very real consequences for us all. These policies will far exceed just trade issues, and will have a very wide range of impact on workers’ daily lives,” said Ryan Mariategue, APALA National Executive Board member.

“We’ve already learned our lesson from 20 years of NAFTA. Trade agreements that put corporate profits over American workers cost the US millions of jobs and our industrial base. NAFTA exacerbated inequality in Mexico and spurred economic migration to the US. As it stands now, the TPP would be NAFTA on steroids--exponentially more dangerous for American and other workers. We weren’t able to protect workers during NAFTA negotiations but we’re not going to let that happen again,” said Sally Kim, APALA Young Leaders Council member and UAW, Global Organizing Institute Project staff.

​To protect the interests of American workers, APALA urges Congress to oppose fast-track authority, and allow the public and our Congressional representatives to view current TPP text and have a voice in the process.

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