Iowa Fair Trade Campaign Position: Trade agreements must incorporate requirements to adopt into domestic law and enforce the five basic internationally-recognized core labor rights as stated in the eight fundamental International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions dealing with freedom of association; the right to organize and bargain collectively; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor; the effective abolition of child labor; the elimination of the worst forms of child labor; and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. 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 exploitation of people." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign) "Strong, enforceable labor and environmental provisions must be part of the core text of every trade agreements. If they are not, our workers will have to compete on an unfair playing field. That is not acceptable." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign) "I will insist on fair trade, vigorously enforce existing trade agreements, and ensure that new trade agreements include strong worker and environmental protections." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign)
Former Sen. John Edwards' Position Sen. Barack Obama's Position Gov. Bill Richardson's Position
"Agreements must have at their core strong protections for the global environment and the five basic internationally-recognized core labor rights as stated in the eight fundamental (ILO) conventions…Such provisions must be enforced with the same mechanisms provided for enforcement of other commercial provisions." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign) "We'll add binding obligations to protect the right to collective bargaining and other core labor standards recognized by the International Labor Organization. And I will add enforceable standards to NAFTA, the World Trade Organization (WTO), CAFTA and other Free Trade Agreements (FTA's) currently in effect." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign) "Trade agreements must require developing nations to improve their labor, human rights and environmental practices. I will insist that trade agreements demand adherence to core ILO standards... Such trade agreements must be vigorously enforced by the WTO... Countries that do not enforce national law and internationally binding obligations will be subject to dispute settlement under the WTO." (Statement to IA Fair Trade Campaign)