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AFL-CIO Suspends Political Contributions to Focus on Trade Fight Against White House

The labor organization says it will focus on fighting the White House over President Obama's trade deals.
The seal of the The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFLCIO) is seen infront of its headquarters on August 16, 2014 in Washington, DC.

The seal of the The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFLCIO) is seen infront of its headquarters on August 16, 2014 in Washington, DC.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
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The AFL-CIO, which has spent heavily to support Democrats at the ballot box, said Wednesday it was freezing its political-action committee donations to federal candidates so it could focus on upcoming trade fights.

The labor group will fight trade deals with countries in the Pacific Rim that the White House has been pushing. Such deals, the organization said in a February statement, have promised higher wages and bigger markets to American workers but instead resulted in jobs being sent overseas.