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JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS USED TO NEGOTIATE AND APPROVE INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the Second Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States as follows:
WHEREAS, the State of Maine strongly supports international trade when fair rules of trade are in place and seeks to be an active participant in the global economy in order to encourage meaningful transparency, appropriately acknowledge the vital role of state sovereignty and afford more meaningful congressional review and acceptance; and
WHEREAS,  the State of Maine seeks to maximize the benefits and minimize any negative effects of international trade; and
WHEREAS,  existing trade agreements have effects that extend significantly beyond the bounds of traditional trade matters, such as tariffs and quotas, and can undermine Maine's regulatory authority and constitutionally guaranteed authority to protect the public health, safety and welfare; and
WHEREAS,  a succession of federal trade negotiators from both political parties over the years has failed to operate in a transparent manner and failed to meaningfully consult with states on the far-reaching impact of trade agreements on state and local laws, even when binding the State of Maine to the terms of these agreements; and
WHEREAS,  existing trade agreements have not done enough to ensure a level playing field for Maine workers and businesses or to include meaningful human rights, labor and environmental standards, which hurts Maine businesses, workers and communities; and
WHEREAS,  the negative effect of existing trade agreements on Maine's regulatory authority and constitutionally guaranteed authority to protect the public health, safety and welfare has occurred in part because United States trade policy has been formulated and implemented in a process that lacks transparency, fails to properly recognize the principles of state sovereignty and lacks any meaningful opportunity for congressional review and acceptance; and
WHEREAS,  the United States Trade Representative is currently negotiating the terms of a proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, which will have a significant effect upon the citizens and commerce of the State of Maine; and
WHEREAS,  there is a current opportunity for improving the process by which significant foreign trade policy agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement are negotiated; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and request the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States to improve the process by which United States trade agreements are developed and implemented in order to encourage meaningful transparency and appropriately acknowledge the vital role of state sovereignty and afford more meaningful opportunity for congressional review and acceptance; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Barack H. Obama, President of the United States, to the President of the Senate of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, to Ambassador Ron Kirk, United States Trade Representative and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.