Trade and Labor--Fast Track

In yesterday's FT, Gary Hufbauer and Theodore Moran argue against the inclusion of requirements for core labor standards in fast track legislation:

US congressional Democrats, led by Sandy Levin and Barney Frank, are insisting that core labour standards promoted by the United Nations’ International Labour Organisation be included in forthcoming trade agreements as part of a “grand bargain”. They want to make ratification of free trade agreements (with Panama, Peru and Colombia) – and renewal of President George W. Bush’s fast-track trade negotiating authority to conclude the Doha round – conditional on the inclusion of enforceable ILO standards.

Their main argument is that the U.S. itself does not comply with these requirements, with non-conforming rules at both the state and the federal level.  They don't mention the other concern with this proposal:  that many other countries would see it as an avenue for "blue protection."