Iowa Democratic Primary Debate: on Free Trade

Amy Klobuchar: We need a North American trading bloc to take on China

Bernie Sanders: Need trade deal that includes stakeholders, not just CEOs

SANDERS: It is not so easy to put together new trade legislation. If this is passed, I think it will set us back a number of years. Senator Warren is right in saying we need to bring the stakeholders to the table, the family farmers here in Iowa and in Vermont and around the country, the environmental community, and the workers. I am sick and tired of trade agreements negotiated by the CEOs of large corporations behind doors.

Sen. Elizabeth WARREN: I led the fight against the trade deal with Asia and the deal with Europe, because I didn't think it was in the interests of the American people. But we have farmers who are hurting. They are hurting because of Donald Trump's initiated trade wars. This new trade deal is a modest improvement. It will give some relief to farmers. It will give some relief to workers. I believe we accept that relief, and we get up the next day and fight for a better trade deal.

Elizabeth Warren: China trade deal will help farmers, then work to improve it

WARREN: I led the fight against the trade deal with Asia and the deal with Europe, because I didn't think it was in the interests of the American people. But we have farmers who are hurting. They are hurting because of Donald Trump's initiated trade wars. This new trade deal is a modest improvement. It will give some relief to farmers. It will give some relief to workers. I believe we accept that relief, and we get up the next day and fight for a better trade deal.

Sen. Bernie SANDERS: It is not so easy to put together new trade legislation. If this is passed, I think it will set us back a number of years. Senator Warren is right in saying we need to bring the stakeholders to the table, the family farmers here in Iowa and in Vermont and around the country, the environmental community, and the workers. I am sick and tired of trade agreements negotiated by the CEOs of large corporations behind doors.

Pete Buttigieg: I support USMCA, but focus on people over corporations

BUTTIGIEG: Yes. When you sit down with people, they share how much harm has been done to them by trade wars. We can benefit consumers, workers and farmers by making sure we have the right kind of labor and enforceability, as Democrats ensured we got in this USMCA. But let's acknowledge why there is frustration. I remember the '90s [government] selling trade deals, telling us, the pie will get so much bigger that everyone will be better off. That promise was broken.

Tom Steyer: Undo Trump tariffs; negotiate trade deals for U.S. workers

STEYER: On the first day, I would undo Mr. Trump's tariffs. On the first day, I would get rid of his waivers to oil refiners [regarding] not having to use corn-based ethanol.

Sen. Elizabeth WARREN: These trade deals have been negotiated surrounded with giant multi-national corporation lobbyists who whisper in the ears of our negotiators and then get deals cut that are great for the giant multi-national corporations, not good for American workers.

STEYER: In fact, these trade deals have been exactly what Senator Sanders and Warren have been saying, which is that they've been designed to grow the American GDP for the corporations of America, not for the working people of America.