Town Hall on Trade Policy at BCC, Oct 16^th 6pm

Please join the Washington Fair Trade Coalition and Bellevue Community College's Center for Liberal Arts in hosting an election Town Hall on trade policy.

What: Election Town Hall on Trade Policy
When: Thursday, Oct 16^th
Time: 6-7:30pm
Where: Bellevue Community College, Room N201

Speakers:

• Darcy Burner (D) candidate WA 8th Distr.
• Dave Reichert (R) incumbent WA 8th Distr. (TBC)
• Larry Ishmael (R) candidate WA 1st Distr.
• David Henry (IAM 751)
• Kathleen Ridihalgh (Sierra Club Cascade Chapter)
• Gaylan Prescott (USW 12)

The speakers will present their views on how US trade policy should be changed or improved in the next administration. There will be plenty of time for questions from the audience as well - so bring your questions and ideas on fair trade!

This will be a non-partisan event, discussing trade policy issues. The Washington Fair Trade Coalition does not endorse any party or candidates. We do like to hold candidates' feet to the fire, however. Please help use by asking the tough questions of our Congressional candidates and community leaders!

Organizational sponsors: Washington Fair Trade Coalition Bellevue Community College Center for Liberal Arts BCC Associated Student Government Legislative Council Washington State Labor Council Martin Luther King County Labor Council.

Bird + Dog = Democracy

We have fewer than 30 days to lock down candidates on key trade issues. While dozens of campaigns are running TV ads on trade reform, and it continues to poll higher than most other election issues, many incumbents are reluctant to commit to specifics. That's where we come into play!

It's up to all of us to hold them accountable over the next month.

When you lock down a specific answer, or corner a congressional candidate on a specific position, email it to me!

These are a few good questions your can ask any federal candidate:

1. The Bush administration is pushing a Free Trade Agreement with Colombia, which has a horrific human rights record, the highest union murder rate in the world, and a government linked to rightwing paramilitaries. Will you commit to vote against the Colombia FTA?
2. NAFTA has cost the U.S. 3 million manufacturing jobs. Its provisions have increased immigration, fueled environmental damage, granted new rights to foreign investors and limited our ability to ensure the safety of imported toys and food. Will you commit to renegotiate NAFTA and remove such provisions?
3. Fast Track was used to seize constitutional trade authority from Congress. It was used to jam through damaging deals like NAFTA. Will you implement a new negotiating model that gives more authority to Congress to choose and negotiate future trade deals?
4. Nearly 100 Congress members have signed the Trade Reform Accountability Development and Employment (TRADE) Act, which aims to review and renegotiate existing trade agreements according to fair standards. Will you cosponsor the TRADE Act?

Please see Citizens Trade Campaign's website for some great resources on how to insert fair trade issues in the elections. http://www.citizenstrade.org/2008elections.php

Watch out for FTAs in Lame Duck Nov 17

Please note that there is very likely going to be a Lame Duck session in Congress starting on November 17th. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has announced that the Senate will return for a lame-duck session in mid-November to pass land bills. House Majority Leader Hoyer did not directly respond when asked today if the House would return for a lame-duck session.

It is important to be prepared in case there are attempts to bring up the pending FTAs with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. We can't let our Congress members sneak these flawed deals through in during this post-election, very accountable period!

Coalition updates - Meeting with Inslee, Welcome to new members

It has been a busy month at the Washington Fair Trade Coalition. In addition to planning our upcoming Town Hall and working with our members on trade and the elections, we have still had some time to meet with Congress members to talk about trade policy. In early October we had the opportunity to meet with Representative Inslee at the Washington Fair Trade Coalition office. Representatives from CISPES, CAGJ, the Washington State Labor Council, Sierra Club, and ILWU were present. While Rep. Inslee has not yet co-signed the TRADE Act, there was a lot of positive discussion for building on fair trade issues in the coming administration. We hope this means he will be an even stronger ally in our fight for fair trade!

Additionally, we would like to welcome three new member organizations to the WFTC team! The American Federation of Government Employees local 3937, and the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers (AWPPW) International Union and Washington Area Council have all recently signed up to support our fair trade work. We are very happy to have you!

For further reading

"IDB, World Bank Hail Americas Free Trade Initiative." A worrying new development in regional trade, keep your eye on this one.

"The United States and the World: Where Are We Headed?" A thoughtful paper by Mark Weisebrot on the future of US economic and foreign policy, including discussion of the financial crisis and trade policy.

"Henry Paulson's Shell Game" Some insight by economist Joseph Stiglitz on the financial bailout and excessive deregulation in our economic system

"House Votes to Extend Andean Trade Preferences"