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Sarah Palin on Free Trade

Republican Governor (AK); 2008 nominee for Vice President

 


Government is unnecessary for economic cooperation

The justification that supporters of greater government intervention in our economy use is that free market capitalism, left to itself, is unfair. Government must therefore step in to regulate the free market in order to ensure a fair outcome.

This argument has been around for a long time. I remember back when I was studying the American economy in my high school history class, the late economist Milton Friedman had won the Nobel Prize in economics a few years earlier and he was all the rage. Friedman uses the making of a pencil to illustrate the power of human economic freedom--and the damage government can do when it steps in to replace the collective energy and decision making of free individuals: "None of the thousands of persons involved in producing the pencil performed his task because he wanted a pencil. No one sitting in a central office gave orders to these thousands of people. None of their differences prevented them from cooperating to produce a pencil.

Source: America by Heart, by Sarah Palin, p. 87-88 , Nov 23, 2010

Bothered by China's bid to control Alaska gasline

The competitive bidding process we created with AGIA [Alaska's 1,715-mile gasline] threw open Alaska's doors to free enterprise. Suddenly, even other nations were bidding. We had anticipated Canadian interest but were surprised to receive a proposal from China. The bid, by Sinopec, bothered me. There was little doubt the company could muster the manpower, technology, and funding necessary to do the job, but this proposal skated on the razor's edge between the free market and national sovereignty. An energy-thirsty Communist nation controlling Alaska's natural gas reserves was not in the best interest of the state or our country. It turned out Sinopec's application was incomplete anyway, and was rejected for that reason.

The Calgary-based pipeline building giant TransCanada-Alaska had not only met every enforceable requirement, but exceeded them. We were ecstatic.

In Aug. 2008, we awarded the AGIA license. We had turned the idea of commercializing our natural gas from pipe dream to pipeline.

Source: Going Rogue, by Sarah Palin, p.205-207 , Nov 17, 2009

Establish viable commercial fisheries in international seas

We protect our waters and soils from pollutants, and we manage our wildlife for abundance. To ensure this, we've successfully brought the Habitat Division back into Fish and Game, as I promised. Our biologists have protected game by eliminating predators from calving grounds and we'll further protect herds, some of which are at precariously low levels of abundance--thus ultimately promoting the population growth of every species.

We're building viable personal use and commercial fisheries in some of the most controversial and complex fisheries in the world, dealing with half a dozen foreign countries, including Japan, Russia and Canada. We're establishing sustainable seafood stocks, and limiting salmon bycatch in the trawl fishery. We've increased research on salmon runs, and we're building new hatcheries for vibrant industry.

Source: Alaska 2009 State of the State Address , Jan 22, 2009

Trade important to Alaska, but keep Alaska residents first

Alaskans have been first-rate at international trade for decades. To our friends in international markets, thank you for your friendship and trade. Alaska welcomes your business and investment.

International trade is important to Alaska. Our exports grew more than 12% last year, and, for the first time, our annual exports topped $4 billion in 2006. We are helping our economy and economies around the world through trade.

In all our efforts, we will keep Alaska residents first. We will help Alaska businesses succeed in their key international markets. We will improve Alaska’s positive international relations with our key trading partners. We will help open new doors.

Education helps trade, too. International courses at our schools and universities help us excel in international markets. We must further prepare Alaskans for international investment and trade opportunities by encouraging education that includes strong workforce development for our high-wage energy and mining industries.

Source: Letter from the governor on state trade website , Sep 1, 2008

Allow wineries to ship by mail within state

Governor Sarah Palin signed into law today House Bill 34, which allows the holder of a winery license to ship up to five gallons of wine within Alaska. The new law will help small Alaska wineries compete with out-of-state wineries through mail, fax orders, and Internet sales, provided that the shipping address is not located in an area that has prohibited importation of alcohol. Before today, Alaskans could order wine from outside Alaska, but they could not order from in-state wineries.
Source: Alaska Governor’s Office: Press release 07-138, “Wineries” , Jun 5, 2008

International markets and companies trust Alaska

International markets and companies trust Alaska’s stable, transparent business climate. They appreciate the creativity and friendliness they find in our state.I want to honor Alaskans who connect us all to the world. The North Star Awards are a good way to celebrate the international know-how of Alaskans.
Source: Statement to Announce the North Star Awards , Apr 2, 2008

Exempt Alaskan cruise ships from customs rule changes

Governor Sarah Palin has asked the US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to back off on a proposed rule interpretation that would harm the Alaska tourism industry. At issue is the agency’s proposed interpretation of an 1886 maritime law that would require foreign-owned cruise ships running between the US West Coast and Hawaii to spend at least 48 hours in a foreign port. The vessels would also have to spend at least half as much time in a foreign port as spent in all US ports of call.

If applied to Alaska cruises the new interpretation would force cruise lines to significantly cut back their time in Alaska ports, pulling hundreds of millions of dollars a year out of the Alaska economy.

“The proposed rule interpretation, aimed at Hawaiian Coastwise Cruises, would be a dramatic and abrupt shift in policy,” Governor Palin said in a letter to the bureau. “Taking something that is working well and changing it--much less on 30 days notice--is not reasonable public policy.”

Source: Alaska Governor’s Office: Press release 07-246, “Cruises” , Dec 26, 2007

Record-high exports; growth of 12.6% since last year

Governor Sarah Palin today announced the value of Alaska’s exports grew to a record-high $4 billion in 2006, a 12.6 percent increase. “Alaskans have been first-rate at international trade for decades,” said Governor Palin. “I applaud the hard-working Alaskans who help our economy at home, and other economies around the world, through trade.”

Alaska’s 10-year trend toward diversification of international seafood markets continues. Germany’s increased use of Alaska seafood is linked to the value the market places on health, food traceability, and fisheries management. The value of Alaska’s 2006 energy exports decreased 21.4 percent to $263 million.

“We not only have abundant and diverse natural resources, Alaskans also have the expertise needed to develop resources,” said Governor Palin. “When we think about exports and international relations, we also need to thank the Alaskans who work to promote the visitor industry and who work at the state’s international ports and airports.”

Source: Alaska Governor’s Office: Press release 07-035, “Exports” , Feb 22, 2007

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Page last updated: Jun 15, 2016