• TRADE Act

• WTO

• Fast Track

• Peru, Panama & Colombia FTAs
• NAFTA
• CAFTA
• NAFTA Expansion Agreements

• Trade as an Election Issue
• Imported Food & Product Safety
• Immigration
• Offshoring
• State and Local Governance
• Harmonization
• Other Issues

• Español
• Portugues

• NAFTA Job Loss Data
• Congressional Voting Records
• Take Action!
• BLOG

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

Democracy v. Corporate Interests

The battle over legislation to grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with the U.S. was perhaps the costliest political fight ever waged on Capitol Hill. The corporate campaign had to overcome the 79% of the U.S. public which opposed enhancing U.S.-China trade terms absent addressing human rights, religious freedom and labor conditions. In a stunning exhibit in the case regarding the corrosive effect of money on the American political system, Congress passed PNTR over this broad public opposition after an unprecedented corporate deluge of campaign cash, lobbying and paid advertising.

Because Public Citizen does not accept funds from corporations, professional associations or government agencies, we can remain independent and follow the truth wherever it may lead. But that means we depend on the generosity of concerned citizens like you for the resources to fight on behalf of the public interest. If you would like to help us in our fight, click here.