Lawmaker assails trade accord

A freshman conservative legislator says the United States should get out of a North American trade and security agreement before the countries morph into a European Union-type organization that could take away some of the United States' sovereignty.

Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Provo, has introduced HCR7, which asks Congress to withdraw from, or at least take oversight control of, a 2005 agreement that was signed by President Bush and the leaders of Mexico and Canada.

While at first glance the "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America" may seem harmless, said Sandstrom, it could lead "to the elimination of our borders" in the name of free trade.

"It could well perpetrate our illegal immigrant problem. We could end up like the EU, even have a common currency," he said.

However, Joe Reyna, chairman of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, doubted America's border with Mexico would be opening up any time soon.

"I don't think it would happen in the next 100 years," Reyna said. "Our cultures are so different."

Reyna said the SPP agreement is beneficial to the United States, particularly when it comes to security provisions, which include sharing intelligence on terrorism.

"It creates a partnership, an agreement to protect our borders so the flow of goods and services runs without any interruption," he said. "You cannot have trade without security."

Since Democrats now control both houses of Congress, Sandstrom doesn't think his resolution will be taken seriously by national lawmakers.

"But at least we can raise the awareness" of what the SPP could mean down the road, he said.

The Utah Legislature has gotten into some real scrapes over seemingly-innocuous resolutions sent to Congress. Several years ago legislators debated whether Utah should recommend that the United States get out of the United Nations.

But principled stands should be taken, says Sandstrom. For example, his resolution says that a super, secure highway could be built from Mexico to Canada across the middle of America, leading to all kinds of troubles, especially if the U.S. lost control of how it would operate.

Alex Segura, head of the anti-illegal immigration group Utah Minuteman Project, agrees with Sandstrom.

"It's a very scary thing that they are doing this without the consent of the American public," Segura said. "It's to create commerce ... even at the price of community."

Segura admits that it may seem far fetched that the United States would join a European Union style commerce organization, but he says the nation is heading toward open borders for people and goods.