If you think the U.S. trade deficit has nothing to do with you, think again.

The trade deficit reached a record $764 billion in 2006. In other words, U.S. consumers, including individuals, businesses and government entities, bought $764 billion more in goods and services from overseas last year than the United States sold to foreigners. The deficit with China alone is $233 billion.

The deficit not only takes money out of our economy, it also costs communities jobs-and depresses wages. Imports from low-wage countries, like China, represent one component of the trade deficit-induced wage depression in the United States. To compete, U.S. companies that don't close their doors or move operations overseas are forced to cut wages or reduce their own labor costs.

As a consumer, you can do your part to stem U.S. job losses: Buy American. Better yet, buy union-made American.

ShopUnionMade.org connects conscientious shoppers with union sources of consumer goods and services, ranging from apparel and furniture to electronics and appliances to musical instruments and sporting goods. The AFL-CIO's Union Label & Service Trades Department has teamed up with Ethix Ventures Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., to offer www.ShopUnionMade.org.

"It's up to you," according to ShopUnionMade.org. "Your shopping dollars can support products made by people earning good pay and benefits. Or your dollars can support products made by-who knows? Political prisoners in China? Child laborers in Haiti? Terrorized factory workers in a Mexican border town?

"Buy union and take responsibility for what your dollars do."