Nov. 5 - Fair-Trade Leaders, Victorious Candidates Say, "Trade Issue Played Historic Nationwide Role in Congressional, Presidential Races: Now It's Time to Answer Public’s Demand for Change"

Fair-Traders Still Gaining Seats Held by Supporters of NAFTA-WTO Status Quo, 43 Vocal Fair Traders Win in Races Using 137+ Trade TV Ads

Posted: 11/5/2008 Read the full press release Read the full report (PDF) See our archive of 2008 paid trade ads Full coverage of trade in the 2008 Elections Trade and elections coverage at Eyes On Trade

WASHINGTON, D.C. - From the presidency to both chambers of Congress and from traditionally "free trade" Oregon and Florida to Colorado and 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 43 fair trade supporters, according to the new report Fair Trade Gets an Upgrade by Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch division.

"The election results demonstrated Americans continued rejection of NAFTA style trade agreements," said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). "Ohioans figured out a long time ago that weak environmental and safety laws abroad allow toxic food, toxic trade and contaminated vitamins into their homes and as a result across the country we saw candidates who supported President Bush's trade agreements lose their races."

"An overwhelming majority of the public understands that unregulated global trade combined with unregulated financial and employment markets has created an economic catastrophe for workers," said Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers (USW). "Our members are committed to working with Senator Brown and other fair trade leaders in the House and Senate to fight to put workers first in a new trade regime."

A total of 36 new fair-traders won seats in the House of Representatives, which represents a net change of 28. Seven new fair-trade supporters won Senate seats, a net change of seven. The report includes trade positions for candidates in over 130 competitive or open seat races. Public Citizen found that in 2008, campaigning on fair trade was not solely a Democratic tactic. More than a dozen incumbent and open-seat fair-trade Republicans beat back tough primary and general election challenges by campaigning on a fair-trade platform, including with paid ads. In a dozen competitive and open seat races, both the Republican and the Democrat competed in an "anti-NAFTA off," battling to be the most critical of the status-quo trade model.

Continue reading the full press release...

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