The Role of Trade in Sustainable Development

Seattle Audubon Society believes that there is no inherent conflict between protecting our environment and encouraging free trade - in fact we see trade as a useful way to support sustainable development throughout the world. This is precisely the rational behind our nationally-recognized NW Shade Coffee Campaign, which seeks to encourage American coffee consumers to purchase coffee that is not only good tasting, but that also protects the wintering grounds of migratory songbirds.

Fast Track Authority

Seattle Audubon Society firmly believes that trade agreements can and should be oriented towards supporting all of our bedrock American values, not just the value of increasing the flow of goods around the world. In the effort to reduce barriers to trade around the globe, we should insure we are not at the same time allowing trade agreements to become barriers to protecting the environment, honoring human rights, or engaging in democratic decisionmaking.

However, the Fast Track legislation narrowly passed by the U.S. House fails to meet this standard. In particular, the House Fast Track bill is a careless piece of legislation that cedes too much Congressional authority without any assurance that our environmental and other important values will be reflected in new trade agreements.

WA State Birds Particularly Vulnerable to Trade Activities

Migratory birds are particularly vulnerable to trade and development activities, as they are potentially affected by the land use practices or other environmental disruptions occurring anywhere along their flight paths. As an example, the Pacific Flyway stretches from wintering grounds in South and Central America to nesting grounds in northwestern North America.

Many notable Washington State songbirds spend their winters in the tropics, including:

Other migratory birds important to Washington State include shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors. All of these species may be impacted by trade and development activities.