Economic Choices 2008 - Iowa's Take on Free Trade

In Iowa, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is one of the major election issues on voters' minds. In his final report filed from the state, NBR Washington Bureau Chief Darren Gersh finds out how Iowans are weighing immigration, jobs, and free trade.



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External Links/Articles*

• Des Moines Register
  This links to an October 26, 2007 article published in The Des Moines Register titled, "Iowa Icon Maytag Writes its Final Chapter." The article includes a quote from the president of the Maytag plant's union, Ted Johnson, who is interviewed in Darren Gersh's report.
• Iowa Minutemen
  The Iowa Minutemen is a chapter of the National Minutemen Civil Defense Corps. The goals of these organizations are "to further inform Iowans about the local events related to illegal immigration, to highlight the impact of illegal immigration locally, and to stress the importance of this issue in our everyday lives." Iowa Minutemen chapter leader, Robert Ussery, is interviewed in Darren Gersh's report.
• Newton, Iowa
  The City of Newton is located east of Des Moines, on the I-80 corridor. In his report, Darren Gersh journeys to Newton, which recently experience the closure of its major employer, Maytag.
• Project Voice
  Project Voice is an initiative of the American Friends Service Committee, an organization founded by Quakers that "carries out service, development, social justice, and peace programs." The goal of Project Voice "is to strengthen the voices of immigrant-led organizations." In his report, Darren Gersh interviews Ann Naffier of Project Voice.
• United Auto Workers Region 3
  This links to a 2005 article published in "Moving Forward" a newsletter published by Region 3 of the United Auto Workers union. The article is title, "NAFTA and Its Effects on U.S. Manufacturing."
• United States Trade Representative (USTR)
  The USTR negotiates trade agreements, resolves trade disputes, and participates in global trade policy organizations. This links to the section of the USTR website that offers information about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

*Clicking these external links will take you off the NBR web site on PBS.org. NBR has no affiliation with these sites.