• 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

Labor Rights and the Peru, Panama and Colombia FTAs

The NAFTA expansions to Peru, Panama and Colombia will decrease job security in these countries and in the United States. Under NAFTA, U.S. wages remain stuck at near-1970s levels, while Mexican wages have actually decreased. More of the same can be expected in these countries if NAFTA is expanded.

In Colombia, the labor rights situation is especially dire. Since 1991, over 2,100 trade unionists have been assassinated, with 72 murdered in 2006 alone. The Colombian army has been implicated in many of these killings, and very few have been prosecuted.

• Read the letter from Congress to USTR Portman opposing trade negotiations with Colombia until the Colombian labor rights record improves (PDF)

Trade agreements should help workers, not harm them. Find out what you can do to help fight for trade that works for working families.

»	Interfaith Statement of Concern about "Free Trade" and Human Trafficking

»	USLEAP: Violence Against Colombia Trade Unionists and Impunity (PDF)

»	The 2007 US Trade Policy Template: Opportunities and Risks for Workers’ Rights (Human Rights Watch)

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.