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.

Since returning to office, Donald Trump has initiated a trade war that, while advertised as America First, is costing working Americans hundreds of dollars each. 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. On Feb. 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Learning Resources, Inc., et al. v. Trump that many of Trump’s tariffs were unconstitutional, and the billions of dollars collected by these illegal tariffs must be refunded. However, those refunds are not going to working people, but rather to the corporations that already increased their prices to maintain their profit margins under the new tariff regime.

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 two global union federations: Public Services International and 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.