HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 4630
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COUNCIL RESOLUTION 4630
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LOCAL AUTHORITY AND OPPOSING
PROVISIONS IN DRAFT MULTINATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
TO THE CONTRARY.
DATE SUBMITTED: May 8, 2000
PASSED: 7/0
OPPOSED:
ABSENT: Farr
REJECTED:
DEFERRED TO:
RESOLUTION NO. 4630
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LOCAL AUTHORITY AND
OPPOSING PROVISIONS IN DRAFT MULTINATIONAL
TRADE AGREEMENTS TO THE CONTRARY.
The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that:
A. State and local governments have utilized their powers in the marketplace in order
to promote living wages, anti-discrimination in employment, local economic development, and basic
human rights at home and abroad.
B. Many citizens have expressed the fear that provisions discussed in international trade
negotiations could restrict the ability of state, county and city governments to prohibit contracts with
entities that violate international human rights, labor and environmental laws.
C. Governmental entities like the City of Eugene are currently allowed to regulate within
their jurisdiction in order to protect the environment and encourage well planned development.
D. Under some interpretations, provisions that surfaced for proposed World Trade
Organization ("WTO") agreements could, if inserted into new trade agreements, undermine the
ability of local, state, and national governments to ensure protection of environmental resources and
to implement sensible land use planning.
E. Draft provisions for WTO agreements have been interpreted by some to create a
dispute resolution mechanism for investors against governments that would be both external to the
United States federal court system and unrestricted by existing judicial interpretations of United
States Constitutional principles.
F. International trade agreement discussions have taken place with a noticeable absence
of comment and advice from potentially affected citizens, state and local governments.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a
Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows:
Section 1. The City Council supports increased global cooperation and communication as
a means of improving both the prospects for peace and the standard of living at home and abroad.
Resolution - I
Section 2. The City Council seeks to protect and enhance the authority of national, state, and
local governments to pass laws related to human rights, environmental protection, and fair labor
standards and practices.
Section 3. The City Council supports local efforts to provide business incentives and
encourage the development of small and historically underutilized minority-owned and women-
owned businesses.
Section 4. The City Council encourages the Oregon congressional delegation and the Office
of the United States Trade Representative to support these basic values in the context of any
international trade agreement negotiations.
Section 5. The City Council opposes any provisions of international trade agreements that
would have the effect of eroding human rights, environmental protection, or fair labor standards and
practices.
The foregoing Resolution adopted the 8th day of May, 2000.
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City Recorll'fr
Resolution - 2