The WSJ has a nice question and answer / debate on trade issues between leading Obama and McCain advisers. Here's Obama adviser Dan Tarullo's response to a question about what exactly Obama does not like about NAFTA:
Question #4: Sen. Obama has said he would renegotiate Nafta. For the Obama camp: What specifically would you like changed? Are you concerned that the talks will worsen relations with America’s two neighbors? ...
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Daniel K. Tarullo:
Sen. Obama supports adding binding labor and environmental standards to Nafta. As he has said on numerous occasions, he would work with the governments of Canada and Mexico to achieve this objective. These provisions will benefit workers and the environment in all three North American countries by ensuring that workers are not mistreated, and the environment not despoiled, by firms seeking a trade advantage. As demonstrated by experience with the changes made in the Peru trade agreement, the inclusion of basic labor and environmental standards is eminently feasible.
There is also a broader cooperative agenda that the three countries should pursue in the economic area, including such matters as energy management. As he explained in his speech setting forth his plan for renewing U.S. leadership in the Americas, Sen. Obama is committed to policies that will promote opportunity and bottom-up growth with equity.
What struck me about this answer was that there is no mention of investment. In the primary, the Clinton team expressed a lot of concern about investment rules; Obama mentioned it as well, but to a lesser extent, and thus I wondered what his full views were. Now, in response to a direct question as to what Obama dislikes about NAFTA, his adviser did not even refer to it, which perhaps suggests that it is not something they plan to pursue strongly.
