Howard Rosen

In 2002, Congress passed the most far-reaching reform and expansion of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) since the program was established more than 40 years ago. Now, two years later, it is time to ask, how successfully have these changes been implemented and how effective is TAA in addressing the needs of workers and communities facing severe dislocations as a result of changes in international trade and investment?

The Trade Adjustment Assistance Coalition is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public policy organization, housed… more

For more than 40 years, the United States has recognized that -- though international trade and global commerce are certainly in the best interests of the United States -- there are those workers that are hurt by trade and globalization in general. During the Kennedy administration, to respond to the needs of those workers the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program was created.

In 2002, the Congress agreed to extend new authority to the Administration to negotiate new trade… more

A little more than a year ago, after a long legislative struggle, Congress passed the most sweeping international trade legislation in 15 years. After a nearly decade-long deadlock, Congress gave the president authority to negotiate new trade agreements. And just before this summer's recess, Congress overwhelmingly passed the first fruits of that authority: new free-trade agreements with Chile and Singapore.

Unfortunately, implementation of the assistance for workers who lose their jobs because of international trade has not been as swift. If… more