Are the Democrats anti-trade?
The Democrats are not against free trade. We support fair trade that is in our national interest. Fair trade means any trade liberalisation commitments are made in line with those of our trading partners and that we are not unduly disadvantaged as a result of any trade deal. It also means recognising that trade has a global impact, and that we have a duty to consider what would be best for the whole world. In this regard, we prefer the multilateral approach to trade negotiations. Multilateral trade agreements (such as those negotiated through the World Trade Organisation) can deal with a wider range of issues than bilateral FTAs. We advocate the need for an international system of rules for international trade. The WTO needs reform to become more accountable, open and transparent – with clearly established rules and processes, and a publicly accountable dispute resolution process.
