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Fair Trade Archive: GTW E-Newsletters, Action Alerts, and Updates

Trade as an Election Issue

For the latest updates on trade in the elections, please see the relevant section of our blog, Eyes on Trade.

From the presidency to both chambers of Congress and from the traditionally "free trade" Florida to Colorado and New York to New Mexico, successful candidates in 2008 election races ran on a platform of fundamental overhaul of U.S. trade and globalization policies including a growing number of Republicans, with a net increase in Congress of at least 30 fair trade supporters, according to our new report, Fair Trade Gets an Upgrade (PDF). The number of fair-trade pick-ups in Congress may increase depending on the results of several races not yet called.

Back in 2006, trade and offshoring were wedge issues actively used in 115 congressional campaigns nationwide, with more than 25 paid campaign ads run on these issues. Election exit polls conducted by CNN and The New York Times revealed that Americans' anxiety about the economy and job security trumped Iraq war concerns. Public Citizen released a report the day after the election showing that 37 newly elected congresspeople and senators ran on pro-fair-trade platforms.

Several special elections between 2006 and 2008 also favored fair-trade candidates, including May 2008 special elections in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Disclosure: Global Trade Watch has no preference among the candidates.

»	GTW Report - Election 2008: Fair Trade Gets an Upgrade (PDF)

»	Trade-Related Campaign Statements by President-Elect Barack Obama

»	GTW Report - 2008 Presidential Candidates' Key Proposals on Health Care and Climate Will Require WTO Modifications

»	The Fair Trade Sweep: 2006 article in The Democratic Strategist (PDF)

»	GTW Report - Election 2006: No to Staying the Course on Trade

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