Citizens Trade Campaign
Encyclopedia
Citizens Trade Campaign (CTC) is a 501C(4) organization, which means it is classified by the Internal Revenue Service
as a 'social welfare organization'. It was first started in 1992 in response to passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA). The coalition now has over 12 million combined members, and comprises 20 national organization stakeholders and 12 state affiliate coalitions. The national and state coalitions are made up of groups coming from environmental, labor, consumer, family farm
, religious, and other civil society
sectors.
Some of the early activists creating the coalition include Lori Wallach of Global Trade Watch
, Brent Blackwelder of Friends of the Earth
, and former Indiana Congressman Jim Jontz
. The former National Director was Larry Weiss (2003 to 2007), who previously directed the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition. The National Director since 2007 is Andrew Gussert, former AFT-Wisconsin labor union
president, and former director of the Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition.
CTC focuses on reforming free trade
policies, and has become is an advocacy group
within major trade battles since 1992. Members advocate that international trade
and investment are not ends unto themselves, but must be viewed as a means for achieving other societal goals such as economic justice, human rights
, healthy communities, and a sound environment. They advocate for trade that reflects what they believe are the views and needs of a majority of the people on issues such as jobs, wages, the environment, human rights, food and consumer safety
, access to essential services, and public health
.
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
as a 'social welfare organization'. It was first started in 1992 in response to passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
(NAFTA). The coalition now has over 12 million combined members, and comprises 20 national organization stakeholders and 12 state affiliate coalitions. The national and state coalitions are made up of groups coming from environmental, labor, consumer, family farm
Family farm
A family farm is a farm owned and operated by a family, and often passed down from generation to generation. It is the basic unit of the mostly agricultural economy of much of human history and continues to be so in developing nations...
, religious, and other civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
sectors.
Some of the early activists creating the coalition include Lori Wallach of Global Trade Watch
Global Trade Watch
Global Trade Watch was founded by Lori Wallach in 1995 as a division of the U.S.-based advocacy group Public Citizen that monitors the World Trade Organization and other trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Central America Free Trade Agreement...
, Brent Blackwelder of Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
, and former Indiana Congressman Jim Jontz
Jim Jontz
James Prather Jontz was an American politician from Indianapolis, who represented the 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995...
. The former National Director was Larry Weiss (2003 to 2007), who previously directed the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition. The National Director since 2007 is Andrew Gussert, former AFT-Wisconsin labor union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
president, and former director of the Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition.
CTC focuses on reforming free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
policies, and has become is an advocacy group
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
within major trade battles since 1992. Members advocate that international trade
International trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product...
and investment are not ends unto themselves, but must be viewed as a means for achieving other societal goals such as economic justice, human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, healthy communities, and a sound environment. They advocate for trade that reflects what they believe are the views and needs of a majority of the people on issues such as jobs, wages, the environment, human rights, food and consumer safety
Consumer protection
Consumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
, access to essential services, and public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
.
CTC National Member Organizations
- Americans for Democratic ActionAmericans for Democratic ActionAmericans for Democratic Action is an American political organization advocating progressive policies. ADA works for social and economic justice through lobbying, grassroots organizing, research and supporting progressive candidates.-History:...
- Communications Workers of AmericaCommunications Workers of AmericaCommunications Workers of America is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States representing about 550,000 members in both the private and public sectors. The union has 27 locals in Canada via CWA-SCA Canada representing about 8,000 members...
- Friends of the Earth
- IATPAction
- Int. Association of MachinistsInternational Association of Machinists and Aerospace WorkersThe International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is an AFL-CIO/CLC trade union representing approx. 646,933 workers as of 2006 in more than 200 industries.-Formation and early history:...
- Int. Brotherhood of BoilermakersInternational Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and HelpersThe International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers is a trade union in the United States and Canada. It is for boilermakers and related occupations, and is affiliated with both the AFL-CIO and CLC....
- Int. Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersInternational Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersThe International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is a labor union which represents workers in the electrical industry in the United States, Canada, Panama and several Caribbean island nations; particularly electricians, or Inside Wiremen, in the construction industry and linemen and other...
- Int. Brotherhood of Teamsters
- Int. Union of Painters and Allied TradesInternational Union of Painters and Allied TradesThe International Union of Painters and Allied Trades is a union representing about 140,000 painters, glaziers, wall coverers, flooring installers, convention and trade show decorators, glassworkers, sign and display workers, and drywall finishers in the United States and Canada...
- League of Rural Voters
- National Farmers Union
- National Family Farm Coalition
- Public CitizenPublic CitizenPublic Citizen is a non-profit, consumer rights advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., United States, with a branch in Austin, Texas. Public Citizen was founded by Ralph Nader in 1971, headed for 26 years by Joan Claybrook, and is now headed by Robert Weissman.-Lobbying Efforts:Public Citizen...
Global Trade Watch - TransAfrica ForumTransAfrica ForumTransAfrica Forum is an advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. that seeks to influence the foreign policy of the United States concerning African countries and the African diaspora.-See also:* Diaspora politics in the United States...
- United Methodist General Board of Church & Society
- United SteelworkersUnited SteelworkersThe United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union is the largest industrial labor union in North America, with 705,000 members. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, U.S., the United Steelworkers represents workers in the United...
- United Students Against SweatshopsUnited Students Against SweatshopsUnited Students Against Sweatshops is a student organization with chapters at over 250 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In April 2000, USAS founded the Worker Rights Consortium , an independent monitoring organization that investigates labor conditions in factories that...
- Workers UnitedWorkers UnitedWorkers United is an American and Canadian union which represents about 100,000 workers in the textile, commercial laundry, and gaming industries....
CTC Affiliated State Coalitions
- Arizona Fair Trade Coalition
- California Fair Trade Coalition
- Florida Fair Trade Coalition
- Maine Fair Trade Campaign
- Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition
- New York Fair Trade Coalition
- Ohio Conference on Fair Trade
- Oregon Fair Trade Coalition
- Pennsylvania Fair Trade Coalition
- Texas Fair Trade Coalition
- Washington Fair Trade Coalition
- Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition