MFTC works in two program areas, "Fair Trade for Maine's Future" and "Justice in the Wal-Mart Economy". We work to educate, organize, and mobilize the members of our coalition member organizations to take action and change the current status quo to build a just, democratic and sustainable global and local economy.
Panama FTA
Citizens Trade Policy Commission
Justice in the Wal-Mart Economy
Our fair trade program includes opposing unfair trade agreements, promoting fair trade policy, making trade policy an election issue, and working with the Citizen Trade Policy Commission.
Panama FTA
Three pending Bush-negotiated "free" trade agreements linger in Congress, including the Panama Free Trade Agreement. This is an expansion of the NAFTA model, this time to the known tax-haven Panama.
More on the Panama FTA
Colombia FTA
MFTC is currently working to defeat passage of the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, yet another NAFTA-expansion. As of today, 3 out of 4 of Maine's Congressional Delegation have come out in opposition to this horrendous agreement. Senator Susan Collins has yet to take a position on this job-killing trade deal with a country that murders trade union leaders.
The TRADE Act
In June 2008, Rep. Michaud (ME) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH) announced groundbreaking legislation to reverse our country's failed trade policy. The TRADE Act is a bill that has been submitted to Congress with over 50 original bi-partisan co-sponsors.
Elections '08
Elections are a great time to get our issues in the headlines and on people's minds. This year we are working to make fair trade an important issue to candidates and voters across the state.
Visit our Elections '08 calendar and resource page to learn more and find out where the candidates are on trade!
Citizen Trade Policy Commission
MFTC helped establish the Citizen Trade Policy Commission, a first of its kind state level body. The commission, or CTPC, was established by the Maine Legislature in 2004 to investigate, analyze, and make recommendations regarding the impact of free trade agreements on the State of Maine.
More on our work with the CTPC
Peter Kellman, Victor Skorapa, Debbie Leighton, Kathy Robertson, and Jenna Vendil speak at the February 2008 CTPC public hearing in South Portland
Justice in the Wal-Mart Economy
For the past two years, MFTC has been working in our 'big-box' program area, working to change the large-scale retail economy that is currently changing Maine.
Last year, MFTC passed first in the nation legislation, the Informed Growth Act, to give Maine communities more information and the review criteria to use when making important planning decisions with stores over 75,000 square feet.