Iowa Fair Trade Campaign Position: Trade agreements must allow nations to follow environmental, health and safety standards adopted in reliance on the precautionary principle, recognizing the legitimate rights of governments to protect public health, safety and the environment. Trade agreements must incorporate requirements to adopt into domestic law and enforce the major Multilateral Environmental Agreements, which comprise the global consensus on basic environmental protection. Failing to meet such standards must be subject to the same dispute resolution and enforcement mechanisms and penalties that apply to the commercial provisions of the trade agreements.

Sen. Joe Biden's Position Sen. Hillary Clinton's Position Sen. Chris Dodd's Position
"All trade agreements must contain labor and environmental standards. Our trade policy should not reward... low environmental standards."(Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign) "Strong enforceable labor and environmental provisions must be part of the core text of every trade agreement" (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign) "[I will] require trading partners to meet environmental standards." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign)
Former Sen. John Edwards' Position Sen. Barack Obama's Position Gov. Bill Richardson's Position
"I will insist that new trade agreements include strong rules on environmental protection. As the world's biggest customer, our trade deals can be vital tools to ensure that progress is made in addressing the threat of global climate change [and can] ensure that poor environmental practices do not create unfair competitive advantages, and that those who are willing to destroy the planet do not profit from their irresponsibility. And trade agreements should not be allowed to override the multilateral environmental agreements that represent the global consensus of sovereign nations about vital environmental measures." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign) "We should add binding environmental standards so that companies from one country cannot gain an economic advantage by destroying the environment." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign) "Trade agreements should truly prioritize social and environmental objectives...Trade agreements, when properly conceived and implemented, must require developing nations to improve their labor, human rights and environmental practices… I believe the U.S. should offer a grand bargain to the members of the WTO: All of the members of the WTO should agree to adhere to and enforce the core ILO standards and the Kyoto treaty." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign)