At Davos Howard Dean decries lax protections for workers.

[madfloridian]

From the Washington Times article since no other US paper is covering it.

Lax labor and environmental standards and inadequate health and safety regulations to be "hidden subsidies

DAVOS, Switzerland | Trade ministers from Brazil and Indonesia pushed back forcefully after Howard Dean said global trade talks are not likely to advance unless they include provisions to protect labor and the environment.

In an interview on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum here, the onetime Democratic candidate for president and national party chairman said he considered lax labor and environmental standards and inadequate health and safety regulations to be "hidden subsidies," and he singled out China as a major offender.

In response, Indonesia's trade minister, Mari Pangestu, bluntly retorted, "All developing countries would say, 'No.' "

Not a popular response at all, but one that I agree with. The trade agreements were made with little consideration for labor and US workers...so I guess that IS a form of protectionism.

Celso Amorim, Brazil's foreign minister, also took issue with Mr. Dean's comments, saying that if the United States wants to do something positive on the environment, it could start by scrapping high tariffs on imported ethanol.

A senior U.S. trade official declined to comment on Mr. Dean's statements. "We do not respond to remarks by private citizens," the official said.

During the forum, political leaders, trade ministers and top business executives from emerging trading powers as well as wealthy nations expressed widespread fears that deepening recession and mounting unemployment may be pushing the United States down the path of economic nationalism and protectionism.

Dean was also part of an environmental forum while there. Here is a video of his portion of the program.

Howard Dean in Open Forum at Davos.

"Statement von Howard Dean am Open Forum Davos 2009 während dem World Economic Forum (WEF)
Thema: "Klimagerechtigkeit: Basis einer neuen globalen Solidarität?"
Anwesend: Kofi Annan, Ajit Gulabchand, Bharrat Jagdeo, Raj Singh und Howard Dean
Category: News & Politics"

Interesting talk, about 5 minutes. Agrees US is the worst villain on the environment. US has less influence now, he says.

DU's DFW met with Howard Dean while he was in Geneva. Sounds like a great get together they had.

[midnight]

1. I agree with Dr. Dean's take on the problem...

"trade talks are not likely to advance unless they include provisions to protect labor and the environment"

[madfloridian]

2. "We do not respond to remarks by private citizens," the official said.

Ouch...that hurt.

I don't have a good feeling about where things are going in that area. Proud of Dean for speaking up even if not popular.

[fadedrose]

5. I hope that President Obama hears about that remark...

made by a SENIOR US OFFICIAL. It sure is different than what Michelle said today at HUD, and the President says..they want to know what private citizens are thinking...

Hope the snobby official gets a memo from the TOP that private citizens are "in" now.

[madfloridian]

8. It was an odd and arrogant response.

You are right.

[fadedrose]

3. I played the video and it was so good to hear Dr. Dean talk again

He is so bright and knowledgeable. And so are you mad...thanks for posting this.

I wish I had more smarts when I see/read/hear Dr. Dean, AND yourself..

I probably look like a moron, but who is DFW? Should I know?

R, of course

[madfloridian]

4. DFW is a DU poster who is good friends with Dean.

They had a great meeting in Geneva.

[fadedrose]

6. Thanks..under what name does he post?

Some posts of somebody named ratseyes or something like that seem like they're from "somebody" important..

[madfloridian]

7. DFW is his user name.

He is in Europe most of the time, and doesn't post very often.

[leftstreet]

9. Good for him!

Thanks for posting these. I didn't even know he was there. US leadership has been pretty absent from Davos this year.

[madfloridian]

11. I saw a list somewhere.

But I did not save the link. Offhand I remember Gore, Kerry, Bill Clinton, Dean, Summers, Leahy. There were more, just don't remember.

Glad he said it but not a popular thing to say. :hi:

[Waiting For Everyman]

10. K&R I'm so glad he's speaking out on this.

Thanks!

[madfloridian]

12. I am also.

:hi:

[madfloridian]

13. Dean at Davos said "the Americans can walk around and not be apologetic.”

I thought that must be a nice feeling after the last 8 years.

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/a-welcome-for-obamas-ambassador-to-davos/

"Shortly after the much-anticipated speech of Valerie Jarrett, who is in effect the Obama administration’s ambassador to Davos, Howard Dean was lounging about with his BlackBerry and strong opinions. Mr. Dean, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, was truly reveling in the fact that President Obama is a much-admired man at Davos. An honorary “Davos Man,” if you will.

“People here are very smart and they get Obama,” Mr. Dean said. “There is a huge sense of relief among the Americans now. The Europeans love him, but the Americans can walk around and not be apologetic.”