At Dayton Town Hall, Workers Call for New Course for U.S. Trade Policy
DAYTON, OHIO – Union members, retirees, and small business owners turned out in droves to share their experiences with how unfair trade and economic policies have harmed working people for decades.
In a vibrant discussion with labor and economic leaders, they expressed a shared demand for a bold new blueprint for trade policy — one that is neither Trump’s corruption and chaos, nor a return to the failed NAFTA model.
Photos are available for publication. Video is available upon request.
“For more than a generation, Washington’s trade policies have treated places like Pittsburgh and Dayton as flyover country. That era is over. At the Coalition for New Trade, we’re building a movement to ensure communities like these have a seat at the table because the conversations happening here are the same ones we need to be having across the country about what inclusive, responsible trade actually looks like. Now is the time to fight for the next generation of trade policies and the respect these communities deserve.”
– Ambassador Katherine Tai, former U.S. Trade Representative under President Biden
“Communities across Ohio know that trade policy is not theoretical — it affects whether factories stay open, whether small businesses can compete, and whether working families can build stable futures. As we approach the 2026 review of the USMCA, this is a critical moment to have honest conversations about what is working, what is not, and how we create a trade agenda that truly prioritizes American workers, domestic manufacturing, resilient supply chains, and long-term investment in our communities. The future of our economy should not simply be measured by corporate profits, but by whether working people and communities like ours are able to thrive.”
– State Rep. Desiree Tims (OH-38)
“As a union leader, we know trade policy affects our jobs, our factories, and our future. Working people deserve a seat at the table when these decisions are made. As we look ahead to the 2026 USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) review, we need trade policies that protect American jobs, strengthen manufacturing, and invest in communities like ours…not just corporate profits.”
– Sam Sanders, President of IUE-CWA (the Industrial Division of the Communications Workers of America) Local 84775
“U.S. trade policy has failed American workers, farmers, small businesses, and consumers for decades, and the current chaotic tariff policy is only making things worse. We need instead to use access to the U.S. market strategically and in favor of working families.”
– Thea Lee, labor economist and former Deputy Undersecretary for International Labor Affairs at the Department of Labor under Biden
“Free trade agreements of the past like NAFTA have just about squeezed working people into oblivion, and Trump’s chaotic and corrupt trade policies of today are only making matters worse. The goal of these town hall events is to talk with one another about how our rapidly changing global economy is impacting our communities and also to think big about what we could do if we had an economy designed to protect working people – and what we will need to get there.”
– Melinda St. Louis, Global Trade Watch director at Public Citizen
Similar events are taking place throughout the industrial Midwest this Spring as elected officials, labor unions, and progressive groups work to build a broad economic agenda to address growing inequality, unpredictable supply chains, and rising costs.
Remaining stops on the “Building a Fair Economy for All Tour” include:
- Chicago, Ill. – June 15
- Mt. Horeb, Wis. – June 16
- Erie, Penn. – June 17