Statutory Agreement

The law of the land is superseded by international agreements.

Statutory agreements refer to international treaties. When they are ratified, they are accepted as laws (statutes). The laws spelled out in the terms of an international treaty supersede the laws of the land, except for constitutional law.

Conflicts

Conflict between international treaties and U.S. laws are common.

International agreements may be controversial in the United States when they are in conflict with the law of the land, especially when they are signed by presidents using their executive powers -- such as the case when Truman signed GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) and more recently, Obama's Law of the Sea Treaty.

Judicial Sovereignty

International laws are influenced by private commercial interests.

Before ratifying a treaty, the United States may insert clauses to preserve its judicial sovereignty. However these clauses can be challenged successfully in the international trade courts, as they have been in the past in relation to GATT.

Individual Rights

International agreements can endanger American freedoms.

Many Americans and even Europeans expressed disagreement with the Codex Alimentarius, the European Union food codes. The Codex classifies nutritional supplements as drugs to be controlled by the pharmaceutical industry. This provision is contrary to the U.S. Congress 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act that classifies supplements as foods to be used by Americans as they please. The Alliance for Natural Health and other health freedom advocates view the codes as an infringement of individual rights.

References

• Federation of American Scientists: Congressional Reports: International Law and Agreements
• Health Movement Against Codex Alimentarius
• Alliance for Natural Health
• About U.S.A.; U.S Government: About U.S. A.: International Agreements