Question

Meet Sharon. Sharon lives and works in Bangladesh, where she is employed as a seamstress making clothing for a large US clothing brand. For her hours of labor, Sharon receives the equivalent of $25 a month. Working conditions for Sharon leave much to be desired. The shop floor is poorly ventilated, without air-conditioners to combat the extreme heat of her country, and without benefits, such as health insurance, a pension, or overtime compensation. Sharon also has fears that the physical structure where she works may not be safe. She has heard reports of other factories collapsing and hundreds of people like her dying as a result. Sharon looks around at the building where she works and has noticed cracks in the ceilings and foundations that are worrisome. She has reported her concerns to her supervisors, but no action is being taken. She has heard from her fellow coworkers that her employers will not fix the building, or provide them with increases in pay or benefits because they need to reduce costs for their clothing for US consumers. She goes to work every day nonetheless because she needs to provide for her family.

Meet Gail. Gail used to work in automotive manufacturing in North Dakota until her factory closed and her job was moved abroad. Gail received trades adjustment funds to retrain her skills and learned how to improve her existing knowledge of manufacturing. Gail is a college dropout with 3 kids. As a single mother she struggles to get by for her family, thankfully she can afford to shop at the local Walmart where costs are lower for her children’s clothes and imported food. Earlier this year, the United States entered into a Free Trade Agreement with South Korea, where the tariffs on US made compact manufactured items was reduced. Since the signing of the Free Trade Agreement, Gail was able to utilize her new training to apply for and receive a new job. This job provides her with a higher income, more favorable working environment, and greater resources for her family all because of free trade. Gail is a student of public school system of North Dakota and a former recipient of the supplemental nutrition program (food stamps). Gail’s father worked in the same automotive manufacturing plant she did, and her grandfather was a subsistence farmer.

QUESTION #1:

Is free trade good?

In your response, you need to provide me an explanation of either Yes or No. You are not allowed to be in the middle. You will need to provide me with an unequivocal defense of the answer you choose. In providing this answer, you must add the following:

If you say that free trade is good, explain to me why you feel Sharon should continue to work in her present working conditions in order for her employers to cut costs and compete in the global market.

If you say that free trade is bad, explain to me why Gail’s new career and he ability to afford cheaper goods for her family should not continue. If Gail has greater opportunities under free trade, explain why she should not be provided those things.

If you provide responses on these two items: 1. Is free trade good? And 2. Why should either Sharon or Gail be affected because of your decision? You will get your points.

Feel free to incorporate the different perspectives on free trade that we have discussed and will discuss throughout this semester. Smart people came up with them and your understanding of these thoughts will heighten your defense of your opinion.

Answer 1

Is free trade good?

Yes. Basically the bad work conditions that Sharon is having are ill effects of poor implementation of labor rights in Bangladesh. This may happen in any industry even if industry is Bangladesh owned and goods are used in Bangladesh without any global trade. She is getting an opportunity only because US based company has outsourced the job. There is no bar on Sharon not to learn new skills and upgrade her career. If she does that then she can get job in service sector which may earn her higher income. If there is no free trade then she will have to go to local manufacturing or agriculture job which will pay her even less.