Some see trade deals as threatening state laws
Associated Press | 08.21.11
Some see trade deals as threatening state laws
By DAVE GRAM
MONTPELIER, Vt. — A free-trade agreement between the United States and other countries around the Pacific Ocean might not seem like an obvious topic of discussion inside Vermont’s Statehouse.
But in Vermont, Maine and other states, there’s growing concern that such agreements could undermine states’ authority in a host of areas, ranging from the regulation of groundwater extraction by bottled water companies, to negotiating lower prices for prescription drugs, to issuance of state approval for a takeover of an electric utility by a foreign-owned company.
Those watching the interplay of state laws and the provisions of international trade agreements acknowledge that some of their worries are speculative. But they say the issues bear watching.
