State of New Hampshire secondary Archives: on Free Trade


Bernie Sanders: Don't believe that unfettered trade creates U.S. jobs

CLINTON: I voted for a multinational trade agreement, but I opposed CAFTA because I did not believe it was in the best interests of the workers of America. I did hope that the TPP, negotiated by this administration, I was holding out hope that it would be the kind of trade agreement that I was looking for. Once I saw the outcome, I opposed it. We are 55 of the world's population. We have to trade with the other 95%.

SANDERS: I do not believe in unfettered free trade. I believe in fair trade which works for the middle class and working families, not just large multinational corporations. I was on the picket line in opposition to NAFTA. We heard people tell us how many jobs would be created. I didn't believe that for a second because I understood what the function of NAFTA, CAFTA, PNTR with China, and the TPP is, it's to say to American workers, hey, you are now competing against people in Vietnam who make 56 cents an hour minimum wage. This is an area where the secretary and I have disagreements

Source: MSNBC Democratic primary debate in New Hampshire Feb 4, 2016

Bernie Sanders: I disagree with Obama on TPP, but he's done a great job

Q: President Obama is for the Asian trade deal known as TPP. Is President Obama, based on this policy, a progressive?

SANDERS: If we remember where this country was seven years ago, 800,000 jobs lost monthly, $1.4 trillion dollar deficit, the financial system on the verge of collapse. I think that President Obama has done a fantastic job. Do I think President Obama is a progressive? Yes, but I disagree with him on issues including the trade agreement, but I think he has done an excellent job.

Source: MSNBC Democratic primary debate in New Hampshire Feb 4, 2016

Bernie Sanders: I will take on corporations that take their jobs to China

There are many corporations who have turned their backs on the American worker, who have said, if I can make another nickel in profit by going to China and shutting down in the United States of America, that's what I will do. I will do my best to transform our trade policy and take on these corporations who want to invest in low-income countries around the world rather than in the United States of America.
Source: MSNBC Democratic primary debate in New Hampshire Feb 4, 2016

Bill Weld: Return to free trade; tariffs counterproductive

The United States should return to a regime of free trade rather than having constant recourse to tariffs. Mr. Smoot and Mr. Hawley tried tariffs in June, 1930, and fanned the flames of the Great Depression.
Source: Speech in New Hampshire by 2020 presidential hopefuls Feb 15, 2019

Chris Sununu: Opposes tariffs on steel and aluminum imports

Citing the importance of Canada to the New Hampshire economy, Gov. Chris Sununu parted ways with President Donald Trump on his threat to impose stiff tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Sununu's spokesman said: "As the Granite State's top trading partner, Canada plays an integral role in New Hampshire's economy. Gov. Sununu does not support imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum." His comments came several days after Trump threatened to impose the tariffs.
Source: WMUR on 2018 New Hampshire governor race Mar 5, 2018

Chris Sununu: Congress should pass USMCA trade deal

A new, and better, trade agreement--known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)--was put forward, we are still waiting for the agreement to be reviewed, and ratified, by the U.S Congress. Every day that passes before the agreement is ratified in Congress is another day employers, workers and families are not benefiting from the new opportunities it makes possible and the higher standards it sets. We urge Congress to give it prompt consideration and move swiftly forward with ratification.
Source: Official press release for 2020 New Hampshire governor race Jun 20, 2019

Corky Messner: Incentives to move labor from rogue countries like China

Source: 2020 New Hampshire Senate website CorkyForSenate.com Jun 3, 2020

Don Bolduc: Bring manufacturing back instead of paying other countries

We need to bring manufacturing back to the United States from outside the United States. That is key for us to be able to respond to pandemics so that we're not waiting for and spending millions and billions of dollars paying other countries for equipment that we allow them to manufacture for us overseas. And we need to do a real good look and a real good accounting of what that will require in order for us to get strong.
Source: NHPR The Exchange on 2020 New Hampshire Senate race Nov 9, 2020

Hillary Clinton: I oppose CAFTA & TPP, but global economy needs trade

CLINTON: I voted for a multinational trade agreement, but I opposed CAFTA because I did not believe it was in the best interests of the workers of America. I did hope that the TPP, negotiated by this administration, I was holding out hope that it would be the kind of trade agreement that I was looking for. Once I saw the outcome, I opposed it. I have a very clear view. We have to trade with the rest of the world. We are 5 percent of the world's population. We have to trade with the other 95 percent. And trade has to be reciprocal. That's the way the global economy works. But we have failed to provide the basic safety net support that American workers need in order to be able to compete and win in the global economy.

SANDERS: I do not believe in unfettered free trade. I believe in fair trade which works for the middle class and working families, not just large multinational corporations. This is an area where the secretary and I have disagreements.

Source: MSNBC Democratic primary debate in New Hampshire Feb 4, 2016

Jeanne Shaheen: Expand opportunities to export to markets around the globe

Jeanne knows that small businesses are the job creators in New Hampshire's economy. She fights to make sure that small business can compete for federal research grants. She is working to expand opportunities for small businesses to export and sell their products and services to growing markets around the globe. Jeanne helped craft the Small Business Jobs Act that included tax cuts for small businesses and boosted access to credit though SBA lending programs. She fought for the creation of the Manchester Job Corps Center and is a leading advocate for attracting students to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to be prepared for the jobs of the future.
Source: 2014 New Hampshire Senate campaign website JeanneShaheen.org Jul 18, 2014

Jeanne Shaheen: Opposes tariffs on steel and aluminum imports

Several days after Trump threatened to impose the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, Jeanne Shaheen voiced deep concern about the potential impact of a trade war with Canada, which is the top recipient of NH international exports. Shaheen told WMUR she was concerned by the promise by Canadian officials to retaliate if Trump follows through on his promise.

Shaheen said, "These tariffs could negatively impact every sector of New Hampshire's economy and will undoubtedly drive up costs for consumers. There's no question that we need to address unfairly traded steel from China, but we must do so in a way that doesn't start a trade war that puts NH's economy at risk and unnecessarily cuts off markets for NH's businesses, such as Canada."

Shaheen added, "President Trump's impulsive announcement is already sending shock waves across the world markets. It's time the president listened to experts who understand that launching a trade war will kill jobs and hurt families across our country."

Source: WMUR on 2018 New Hampshire governor race Mar 5, 2018

Mitt Romney: We have to open up markets to America's goods

We have to open up markets for America's goods, as the most productive people in the world, more output per person from an American than anywhere else in the world. We have to open up markets for our goods. We haven't done that under this president.

European nations and China over the last three years have opened up 44 different trade relationships with various nations in the world. This president has opened up none.

We have to open up trade. We have to take advantage of our extraordinary energy resources. At the same time, we're going to have to do something aboutwt the regulations in this country.

As a party, we talk about deregulation, what we're really shorthanding is that we want to change old regulations that are crushing enterprise and put in place those that encourage enterprise. I understand how the economy works, because I've lived in it.

I know what regulations kill and which regulations help enterprise. And I want to use the expertise to get America working again.

Source: WMUR 2012 GOP New Hampshire debate Jan 7, 2012

Ray Metcalfe: Fair trade as opposed to free trade

Source: 2016 New Hampshire gubernatorial website Metcalfe4Senate.com Nov 1, 2008

  • The above quotations are from State of New Hampshire Politicians: secondary Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Free Trade.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2016 Presidential contenders on Free Trade:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI)
Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023