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Steve Bullock on Free Trade
Democratic Presidential Challenger; MT Governor
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Blunt instrument of tariffs hurt farmers
A farmer said to me, every time Trump tweets, we lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. If Montana had to eat all the wheat that we produce, every Montanan would have to eat 40 loaves of bread a day. Corporations can move capital easy. Workers can't
move. We need to make sure that our trade deals actually are thinking about the workers. They can't be the stepchild. But this blunt instrument of tariffs that the president is doing, that's not how we get a fair deal for farmers or manufacturers.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit)
, Jul 30, 2019
Don't use tariffs to pressure countries
Bullock on Tariffs: Don't use tariffs to pressure countries.FIVE CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Joe Biden; Peter Buttigieg; Kirsten Gillibrand; Kamala Harris; Beto O`Rourke.
The majority of Democrats have broadly slammed Trump's use of tariffs.
Harris and Gillibrand say tariffs on China and U.S. allies hurt American consumers, workers and companies. Joe Biden and other candidates have argued that farmers and manufacturers are feeling the brunt of Trump's trade wars.
Source: Politico "2020Dems on the Issues"
, Jul 17, 2019
Tariffs hurt farmers; let's work to open up markets
We have to do everything we can to make our farms and ranches viable. I was talking to someone in Iowa two weeks ago, lost $147,000 last year. Not only do they have the financial hit but we're going to lose markets. The way the Trump administration's
approached this, the blunt instrument of tariffs, isn't working. We've always made sure that we have open access to markets not by going alone but by going with other partners across the world and doing everything we can to open up markets.
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2019 interview
, Jun 9, 2019
Trump has turned "America First" into "America Alone"
We're going to lose markets. The way that the Trump administration's approached this is just sort of the blunt instrument of tariffs isn't working. I think he's kind of turned "America first" into "America alone."
We've always made sure that we have open access to markets not by going alone but by going with other partners across the world and doing everything we can to open up markets.
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2019 interview series
, Jun 9, 2019
Work with other nations to deal with China's practices
We need to be tough on China. Let's not kid ourselves on that. But 25% tariffs on all Chinese products, every American family will be hit by $2,000 in one year in increased prices. America first has become America alone. We can't do it that way.
We need to bring our allies together and some of our adversaries. We need to actually enforce through the World Trade Organization, when appropriate, as well.
Source: CNN SOTU 2019 interview of presidential hopefuls
, May 19, 2019
End reckless trade war with China
Bullock has criticized President Donald Trump for his "reckless" trade war with China, which has hit farmers in rural states like Montana particularly hard. As governor, Bullock led trade missions to China, South Korea and Taiwan.
He is largely viewed as pro-business and has advocated for cautious government spending. As governor, Bullock launched economic initiatives aimed at boosting local businesses and economic productivity in rural communities.
Source: PBS News Hour 2020, "Where the candidate stands on 9 issues"
, May 15, 2019
Reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank.
Bullock signed Letter on Ex-Im Bank
Press release on Letter from 31 Governors to House Republican leaders:
We urge you to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) before its charter expires this year. In its role as the official export credit agency, Ex-Im is a vital export finance tool for exporters in our states, at no cost to American taxpayers.
Ex-Im allows our companies and workers to compete on a level playing field against our competitors. Without Ex-Im financing, US firms would have lost many sales campaigns to their overseas competitors.
Reauthorizing Ex-Im is the right thing to do for our economy, companies and workers. 41 GOP lawmakers and 865 business organizations have called for the charter's immediate renewal. And, House Democrats have already introduced legislation to reauthorize the bank. Speaker Boehner, it's time to act; quit jeopardizing the nation's economy and American jobs.
Argument in opposition from FreedomWorks:
Top Ten Reasons to Let the
Export-Import Bank Expire- It Has Outlived Its Purpose: In the 2010s, US exports have been setting record highs--they don't need government help.
- It Lets Government Pick Winners and Losers
- Its Risky Loans Put it in Danger of Needing Taxpayer Bailouts
- It Costs Taxpayers Money Annually, thanks to government accounting gimmicks
- Most of Its Funding Goes to Big Corporations Who Don't Need the Money
- It Lets Foreign Corporations Undercut US Competitors
- It Only Benefits a Few States, but Every State Bears the Costs
- It Is Prone to Corruption (like whenever you involve the government in handing out money)
- There Are Better Ways to Help US. Manufacturers: the government should lower and simplify the tax and regulatory burden US companies face.
- It Is Unnecessary. The Ex-Im Bank cannot justify its continued existence. It's also one of the easiest programs to retire, as its authorization expires in September 2014 if Congress simply does nothing.
Source: Letter from 31 Governors 14_Lt_ExIm on Jul 15, 2014
Support long-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank.
Bullock signed Letter from 26 Governors to Congressional leadership
As governors of states whose economies and workforces depend on exports, we strongly urge Congress to support legislation that provides for the long-term reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) before its charter expires on June 30, 2015. The Ex-Im Bank is a crucial tool that both small and large businesses use to compete fairly in the world market, increase their exports, stimulate job creation, and contribute to the growth of our states' economies.
As the official export credit agency of the United States, the Ex-Im Bank assumes the credit and country risks that private sector lenders are unable or unwilling to accept, and without it, U.S. firms would lose many sales to overseas competitors. The Ex-Im Bank allows our companies and workers to compete on a level playing field against international competitors who receive extensive support from their own export credit agencies.
In 2014, the Ex-Im Bank supplied more than $20 billion in financing to support approximately $27 billion in exports. In that same fiscal year, the Ex-Im Bank supported more than 160,000 American jobs. And the overwhelming majority of the Ex-Im Bank's transactions--nearly 90 percent--assisted small businesses.
The Ex-Im Bank is financially self-sustaining, and operates at no cost to hard-working American taxpayers. In fact, in fiscal year 2014 alone, the Ex-Im Bank returned approximately $675 million in deficit-reducing receipts to the U.S. Treasury.
Last year, Congress reauthorized the Ex-Im Bank [for one year]. It is essential that both chambers act again, this time to pass a long-term, multi-year reauthorization.
Source: Letter from 26 Governors to Congressional leadership 18LTR-EXIM on Apr 14, 2015
Page last updated: Dec 14, 2019