Trade Policy

The AFT understands that U.S. trade policy has had significant global and domestic effects on workers’ rights, wages, climate change, corporate dominance, financial investment, consumer safety and the wealth gap. The last decades of trade policies, including President Trump’s United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, have led to increased corporate profits and increased protections for foreign investors at the expense of working families.

Since returning to office, Trump has initiated a trade war that, while advertised as America First, is costing working Americans hundreds of dollars. The average applied U.S. tariff rate in 2025 is the highest in over a century, and working people are the ones paying this new Trump tax on goods. The AFT stands against the chaotic tariff policy of the Trump administration, instead working toward trade policy solutions that enhance labor rights and workers’ voice. We stand in solidarity with activists around the world fighting for labor rights.

The AFT belongs to the global union federation Public Services International (as well as Education International). PSI brings together more than 30 million workers, represented by 700 unions in 154 countries and territories. It is a global trade union federation dedicated to promoting high-quality public services in every part of the world. PSI members, two-thirds of whom are women, work in social services, healthcare, municipal and community services, central government, and public utilities such as water and electricity. Education International is a federation bringing together 383 member organizations constituting 32 million teachers and education support personnel in 178 countries and territories.