Replacing the Fast Track Trade Negotiating Process: The IFTC letter urged all presidential candidates seeking support in the Iowa caucuses to: Commit to strengthening Congress' role in trade policy, by replacing the Fast Track negotiating process with a new system that includes readiness criteria to determine appropriate negotiating partners; binding obligations regarding what must and must not be in future trade agreements; the right of prior informed consent for states before they are bound to non-trade, investment, service sector and procurement rules in trade agreements; and the right for Congress to vote before agreements are signed.

Sen. Joe Biden's Position Sen. Hillary Clinton's Position Sen. Chris Dodd's Position
Not included in statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign "I will not enter into new trade agreements or seek trade promotion authority, until my administration has done two things: reviewed all of our existing agreements to determine whether they are benefiting our economy and our workers; and crafted a comprehensive, pro-America trade policy that will strengthen our country in the 21st Century." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign) "When the strategic pause is suspended, and when I am satisfied that the time has come to begin negotiations on new and improved trade agreements, they will be conducted with full transparency. I will ensure that all parties are at the table including workers and family farmers and I will open negotiations to observers. There is no reason for trade agreements to see the light of day only after they are completed." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign)
Former Sen. John Edwards' Position Sen. Barack Obama's Position Gov. Bill Richardson's Position
"[W]e need a new way to negotiate trade agreements that ensures they do not overstep into imposing one-size-fits all constraints which limit the domestic health care, education, environmental, safety and other policies that are essential to ensuring our nation's future. This new trade negotiating system must provide more opportunities for diverse public input in contrast to our current system which relatively advantages business interests while largely excluding non-commercial interests. I will tie both unilateral trade preferences and bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, as well as, future presidential Trade Negotiating Authority, to measurable progress on labor rights in the involved countries." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign) "I will replace Fast Track with a process that includes criteria determining appropriate negotiating partners that includes an analysis of labor and environmental standards as well as the state of civil society in those countries. Finally, I will ensure that Congress plays a strong and informed role in our international economic policy and in any future agreements we pursue and in our efforts to amend existing agreements." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign) Not included in statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign