In his "debate" with Susan Schwab (trade negotiator) he clammed up and could not or would not make the killer comment to the effect that NONE of the Free Trade Agreements are: neither fair nor free for America
(that would take one paragraph instead of 100s of pages)

He barely mentioned the 28 years of consistent trade deficits, currently at $800B, but did not challenge SCHWAB to explain why that is GOOD for AMERICA....

She got her point out to the effect that US EXPORTS grew by more than 40% in most such deals.... but LOU failed to point out that it came at a steep price of VASTLY INCREASING IMPORTS. How the hell is that good for America.

In the case of NAFTA:

Pre-NAFTA 1992: Exports to Mexico: $41B; 2006 $134 B (3.3 times)
Pre-NAFTA 1992: Imports from Mexico: $35B; 2006 $198 (5.7 times)

So the US went from a SURPLUS to a HUGE DEFICIT. How the hell is that good for America?... It may be good for the particular "exporters", but America is left holding the "Current Account Deficit" bag....

The statement we keep hearing from the USCHAMBER is that TRADE quintupled.... true, BUT MEXICO is the winner, US is the loser....
The US had a positive balance of $6B, now we have a negative balance of $64B...

surely Lou understands this? but he can't seem to articulate this critical nuance...