Washington
Fair Trade
Coalition
The Washington Fair Trade Coalition (WFTC) is a coalition of over 60 Washington labor, faith, environmental, farmer, and social justice groups that are committed to creating a fair, balanced, and sustainable global trading system.
News & Analysis
We’re hiring!
Job posting: Director and Trade Justice Organizer
The Washington Fair Trade Coalition is seeking a talented organizer to direct the coalition’s work on behalf of people and the planet to achieve a fair global trading system.
The Director will be at the center of our campaign to influence NAFTA renegotiation, educating and mobilizing our coalition members and allied groups in these policy debates, securing support from elected officials, and building long-term vision and momentum for fair trade policies that put people and the planet above profits.
Apply today!
read moreTake Action
Annual Fair Trade Breakfast: Get your tickets today!
How Has NAFTA Affected Workers and Immigrants?
How Can We Make NAFTA 2.0 Work for all of Us?
Wednesday, November 15, 2017, Seattle
Doors open at 7:30 – Program from 8 to 9:00 AM
Buy your tickets here!
read moreSign today to END ISDS!
END ISDS: Add your name to demand that any North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation removes the corporate power grab known as Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).
Seattle area folks: Our allies have called for people to show up in support of DACA at this press conference at 2PM today. Please join in support if you are able!
Emergency Rally & Press Conference: Save DACA
September 5, 2017, 2:00pm - September 5, 2017, 6:00pm
Following President Trump's announcement ending the DACA program, a large coalition of undocumented immigrants, elected officials, and community, faith, business and labor leaders will join in solidarity to respond and demand a solution for millions of American families that leaves no one behind.
BREAKING: WA Fair Trade Coalition will be holding a hearing on NAFTA renegotiation on September 19!
Join us to hear from workers and immigrants who have been affected by NAFTA, and to send back with our elected officials to D.C. ideas of what we need to see in a New NAFTA that works for all of us!
Postponed! - A New Nafta: Putting Worker, Immigrant Voices First
Postponed! - A New Nafta: Putting Worker, Immigrant Voices First
September 19, 2017, 6:30pm - September 19, 2017, 10:00pm
--- THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED, it will NOT be happening on September 19 --- NAFTA negotiation is rolling at breakneck pace. What can we do to raise the profile of how NAFTA has impacted workers and immigrant workers in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, and demand a new NAFTA that works for all of us? Join us to hear from people in our community that have been impacted by NAFTA, and be part of a conversation on what must change! A New NAFTA: Putting Worker and Immigrant Voices First Tuesday, September 19, in SeaTac doors open at 6, hearing from 6:30-8PM IBEW 77 Hall, 19415 International Blvd Join the Washington Fair Trade Coalition to hear the testimonies of community members and advocates who have been impacted by NAFTA, and to send back to D.C. our priorities for a NAFTA replacement that works for all people. Sponsors: WA Fair Trade Coalition, WA State Labor Council AFL-CIO, Faith Action Network, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21, Community Alliance for Global Justice, Pierce County Central Labor Council, WA State Alliance for Retired Americans, Legacy of Equality Leadership and Organizing, Community to Community Development, Puget Sound Advocates for Retiree Action, Occupy Bellingham, Mangrove Action Project, Backbone Campaign, South Sound Democratic Socialists of America, Health Alliance International
NAFTA renegotiations are rolling, and despite strong talk and big promises, the public and press have been shut out. Meanwhile, hundreds of corporate lobbyists have been given special “cleared advisor” status that grants them privileged access to proposed texts and to the negotiators themselves.
We can still introduce accountability to the NAFTA renegotiation process -- but we have to get Congress to act!
Tweet at your U.S. Representative, urging them to demand transparency : www.citizenstrade.org/ctc/blog/2017/07/31/demand-transparency-in-the-nafta-negotiations/
Not on Twitter? Send an email instead: org.salsalabs.com/o/1034/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=22171
Last week, we joined the thousands gathered in Seattle to participate in the May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights #maydayseattle #maydaywa
Current Campaign
Free Trade Facts
The Impact Of Free Trade Policy In Washington State
Manufacturing Jobs Lost in Washington State
Jobs Lost due to the Rising Trade Deficit With Mexico
Current Free Trade policy has proven to be a losing battle for workers, farmers, and communities in WA State and around the world.
Why Should I Care?
- Mexican farmers unable to compete with cheaper American
corn lose their land and migrate to cities to find work in maquilladoras
(sweatshops) or to the US and WA State as farm workers
- 65,193 workers were certified under Trade Adjustment Assistance
1994-2011 as directly losing their job because of US trade policy (US DoL statistics).
positions associated with these jobs such as drivers, suppliers and
small businesses do not qualify and are not counted.
- Mexican farmers unable to compete with cheaper American
corn lose their land and migrate to cities to find work in maquilladoras (sweatshops) or to the US and WA State as farm workers
Fair Trade
Not Free Trade
What Would It Look Like?
For too long, U.S. trade policy has benefited transnational corporations at the expense of workers’ rights, consumer safety and the environment at home and abroad. The Washington Fair Trade Coalition, working with local, national, and international partners, aims to build a new model of trade, a model that supports our communities and our world. What could that look like?
