AFL-CIO: Today's Trade Policies are Undermining Working People

The AFL-CIO called for a new direction for U.S. "trade promotion authority," also known as "Fast Track," one that ensures that Congress approves trading partners before negotiations begin, includes objectives that benefit all, not just multinational corporations and gives Congress the ability to strip out provisions that fail to meet these objectives.

"Today, the trade policies of the United States are undermining the interests of working people," the AFL-CIO Executive Council said in a statement. "Because 'trade' agreements include provisions on environmental policy, labor rights, foreign investment, food safety, anti-trust policy and more, these decisions should not be made behind closed doors – away from the eyes of the people and their elected representatives."

Read the full statement here.