Number: RS22823
Title: Overview of Labor Enforcement Issues in Free Trade Agreements
Authors: Mary Jane Bolle, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: Since 1993, the Administration has negotiated and Congress has approved 10 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that contain labor provisions with different degrees of enforceability. Three more (with Colombia, Peru, and South Korea) await congressional consideration. This report identifies two types of labor enforcement issues: (1) those that relate to the FTA provisions themselves, including their definitions and their enforceability, and (2) those that relate to executive branch responsibilities, such as resource availability and determining dispute settlement case priorities.
Pages: 6
Date: April 17, 2008