MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - December 19 - President-elect Barack Obama's choice for the next U.S. Trade Representa- tive, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, must fix a broken U.S. trade policy, which has caused enormous harm to farmers, workers, communities and the environment, according to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP).

WASHINGTON - December 17 - As U.S. toy imports hit record levels this year, U.S. trade policy and outdated consumer safety protections expose America's children to a flood of unsafe toys, according to a study Public Citizen released today. "Closing Santa's Sweatshop" also documents campaign pledges on import safety made by President-elect Obama and new members of Congress - 34 of whom replace congressional supporters of the failed trade-policy status quo generating the import safety crisis.

ESCONDIDO, Calif. - December 12 - The best-selling natural soap brand in the U.S., Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, and the Swiss Organic and Fair Trade Certifier IMO have been accepted into Whole Foods Market's Whole Trade Program. The Whole Trade Program is Whole Foods Market's designation of products with the highest degree of ethics and integrity in Whole Foods Market stores, regarding high-quality standards, premium prices to producers, better wages and working conditions for workers, and environmental sustainability.