The Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act was introduced in Congress by Sen. Brown (OH) and Rep. Michaud (ME) with strong support from a wide variety of labor, environmental, family farm, faith, consumer and community groups. This landmark fair trade legislation will:
Fix Our Failed Trade Policies
- Process for reviewing and renegotiating existing trade agreements like NAFTA, CAFTA and the WTO
Set a Platform for Fair Trade Policy
- Mandatory criteria for future trade agreements regarding labor, environmental, food safety, intellectual property, service, procurement, investment, agricultural, national security, states’ rights, anti-dumping and dispute resolution provisions.
Ensure that Our Trade is Transparent, Accountable, and Democratic
- Reassert Congressional authority and public oversight in trade policymaking.
Read the full House and Senate text of the TRADE Act.
See the Citizens Trade Campaign Fact Sheet including list of organizational sponsors
What People Are Saying about the TRADE Act: Read this powerful testimonials for the new direction of trade. Follow the links for the full statements of support from the organizations.
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney:
“This bill … outlines a new U.S. trade strategy — one that puts a priority on the interests of working class Americans, farmers, the environment, and domestic manufacturers, not just multinational corporations. The AFL-CIO is proud to support the TRADE Act. It is past time to restructure U.S. trade policy to work for working families — here at home and around the world.”
Change to Win Executive Director Greg Tarpinian:
“The TRADE Act lays the foundation for creating fair trade agreements that will help working families achieve the American Dream in the 21st century economy.”
Sierra Club Trade Program Director Margrete Strand Rangnes:
“This Act has the potential to set straight the history of NAFTA and the WTO to encourage truly sustainable development that promises to benefit the majority of the world’s people … while protecting our resources for future generations.”
Teamsters General President James Hoffa:
“At long last, we can see an end to 14 years of disastrous trade deals. The TRADE Act would make sure that the benefits of trade go to workers as well as the richest few. It sets new rules for global trade that create good jobs and improve working conditions everywhere. The TRADE Act lays out the foundation of how a trade agreement should be negotiated, and what it can and cannot include. Finally, we can have fair trade that workers everywhere deserve.”
CWA President Larry Cohen:
“The TRADE Act restores Congress’s constitutional right of oversight in trade policy. The Bush Administration has trampled on that right. The landmark legislation … will ensure that no matter who occupies the Oval Office, Congress will have a meaningful say in trade policy.”
Friends of the Earth President Brent Blackwelder:
“Trade agreements should support, rather than undermine, environmental protection. The TRADE Act encourages responsible behavior, providing a blueprint for a far better and more balanced way to conduct international trade.”
UNITE HERE General President Bruce Raynor:
“This bill breaks new ground on the enforcement of labor rights, environmental protection, food and product safety, procurement, safeguards against surges of imports, trade remedies against unfair trade practices and the ability for countries to regulate foreign investment.”
National Family Farm Coalition President Ben Burkett:
“We applaud the introduction of the TRADE Act. The legislation is clear that fair trade begins with farmers being able to earn fair prices reflecting cost of production, fair treatment of farm labor, and limitations against unfair dumping practices. It allows for all countries who are part of a trade agreement to establish strategic food and energy reserves, an important policy instrument that must be reinstated to address the growing global food crisis.”
Public Citizen Global Trade Watch Director Lori Wallach:
“The TRADE Act is exciting because it describes concretely new trade and globalization policies that many Americans would support and shifts the debate toward future consensus about what we are for, rather than focusing on opposition to the current model. Corporate interests have hijacked past trade pacts to get special protections — patent extensions that jack up drug prices, subsidies for offshoring production and more. The TRADE Act tips the scales back in balance with a trade agenda that also suits workers, the environment and everyday consumers.”
United Steelworkers Legislative Director Holly Hart:
“The USW strongly encourages you to cosponsor this groundbreaking legislation. We must take action now to shape the future debate on trade.”
International Association of Machinists Statement:
“The TRADE Act represents a fresh new start to replacing the failed trade model that continues to destroy jobs, lives and communities.”
Americans for Democratic Action Statement:
“The time has come for the United States to take a new step forward on global trade so that everyone benefits. Americans for Democratic Action wholeheartedly supports the TRADE Act as the approach to move us in the right direction.”
Citizens Trade Campaign National Director Andrew Gussert:
“This Act is a balanced way to expand trade, offering us all a fair way forward. It means trade agreements will better serve a majority of people on issues such as jobs, the environment, human rights and public health, giving us all a model we can support.”