Fair Trade
ABOUT GLOBAL JUSTICE | INDIA COLLABORATION | gLOBAL TRADE |
FAIR TRADE, NOT FREE TRADE!
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has already had a disastrous impact on working families thoughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Now corporate intersts want to expand so-called "free trade" agreements to countries across the globe. They even want to create a giant "free trade" zone that would encompass the entire Western Hemisphere known as the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). These agreements damage that NAFTA has done to workers' rights, the environment, and democracy to 34 countries, affecting some 800 million people. The FTAA also includes rules that would increase the pressure to deregulate public services - like education, health care, and safe drinking water - leading to higher costs and lower quality. That's why working families and community activists are coming together now to propose a better way to trade that creates jobs and protects workers' rights, the environment, and democracy.
In recent years protests throughout the hemisphere have, for the moment, beat back the FTAA. But smaller-scale trade agreements such as the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement, and more continue to be negotiated behind closed doors. This summer, we have a real opportunity to bring these back-room deals into the public eye again. A few years ago, Congress voted by a very narrow margin to grant the President Trade Promotion Authority, also known as "Fast Track". Fast Track basically allows the President to negotiate trade deals as he sees fit, and only allows Congress a vote after agreements' contents are decided by the Executive Branch and entered into by signing. Jobs with Justice has joined 713 organizations in signing a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging them to deny the renewal of Fast Track when it expires on June 30, 2007.
Visit our global justice tools section to find popular education tools and to learn more about why free trade isn't free.
