Citizens Trade Campaign

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.

CTC National Member Organizations

• Americans for Democratic Action
• Communications Workers of America
• Friends of the Earth
• IATPAction
• Int. Association of Machinists
• Int. Brotherhood of Boilermakers
• Int. Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• Int. Brotherhood of Teamsters
• Int. Union of Painters and Allied Trades
• League of Rural Voters
• National Farmers Union
• National Family Farm Coalition
• Public Citizen Global Trade Watch
• TransAfrica Forum
• United Methodist General Board of Church & Society
• United Steelworkers
• United Students Against Sweatshops
• Workers United

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