Human Rights in Trade Agreements

A proposal by a Canadian politician:

Canadian opposition lawmaker Scott Brison, whose proposal to include human rights reviews in a free trade accord with Colombia may win its passage, said the idea could jumpstart a similar agreement stalled in the U.S. Congress.

Critics of trade with Colombia say President Alvaro Uribe must improve the South American country’s human rights record, alleging a history of unpunished violence against union organizers. The agreement, which Brison “hopes” can clear Canada’s Parliament by July, includes an annual report on human rights in Colombia and Canada.

“It is a bit of a game-changer -- I think it’s going to be part of free trade agreements in the future to help fortify human rights engagement,” Brison, the Liberal Party’s spokesman for international trade, said in an interview at Bloomberg’s Ottawa bureau today.

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The U.S. trade agreement now stalled in Congress could be advanced because human rights groups “may see a way forward with a stronger reporting mechanism,” said Brison, 42.

I don't know enough about Canada to have a sense of how this suggestion would play out there.  But I suspect the reaction in the U.S. would be somewhat negative.  What would Americans think of having a new international organization issuing reports on human rights practices in the U.S.?  I'm guessing there would be a vocal few who would not like it very much.  On the other hand, a report is just a report, not a binding ruling or anything, so perhaps people could live with it.