State of Pennsylvania secondary Archives: on Free Trade


Bob Casey: Go after "trade cheaters" to protect PA jobs

Q: Support President Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?

Lou Barletta (R): Yes. Supports Trump's using tariffs as leverage to get better trade deals. Says if retaliatory tariffs hurt agriculture, Trump will help them.

Bob Casey (D): Yes. We must go after "trade cheaters" to protect PA jobs.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Pennsylvania Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Brendan Boyle: Americans compete on an unfair playing field

When elected to Congress, I will fight to:
Source: 2014 Pennsylvania House campaign website, VoteBoyle.com Oct 10, 2014

Carla Sands: While ambassador, US exports to Denmark rose over 20%

In 2016, Carla met, got to know, and in turn worked tirelessly to elect President Donald J. Trump and his America First agenda. In 2017, President Trump called on Carla to represent the United States as the Ambassador to Denmark. During her tenure, Denmark increased its defense spending, while U.S. exports to the Kingdom of Denmark rose over 20%, resulting in the creation of additional jobs right here at home.
Source: 2021 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website CarlaSands.com Oct 20, 2021

David McCormick: When China succeeds, the United States succeeds

In 2007, McCormick spoke as a member of the Bush administration in˙Beijing, where he said that "When China succeeds, the United States succeeds" and that the US owes "much of the strength and vitality of our economic relationship today to the remarkable success of China's economic development over the last three decades..." As a member of the Bush administration, McCormick pushed China to raise the value of its currency. In the past, McCormick supported the˙Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Source: Wikipedia on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race May 22, 2022

David McCormick: With Bush: embrace trade; with Trump: America First

McCormick has highlighted the benefits of free trade stating in 2008 that "the key to remaining competitive in today's changing world is embracing openness to trade and to investment and to people".˙As a member of the Bush administration, McCormick pushed China to raise the value of its currency.

In more recent times, he has supported President Trump's America First policy, indicating a shift. In the past, he has seemed to argue that the benefits of free trade outweighed the downside of displacing American workers and suggested retraining those who whose jobs have become obsolete. He also opposed U.S. exports which gave advantages to China's military.˙In the past, McCormick supported the˙Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Source: Wikipedia on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race May 22, 2022

Ken Krawchuk: Support free trade

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Support & expand free trade"?

A: Support. It's what made America great.

Source: OnTheIssues interview: 2018 Pennsylvania Governor candidate May 18, 2018

Jim Christiana: Negative consequences of retaliatory tariffs on agriculture

The president and his administration need "a tremendous amount of flexibility" to enact tariffs and work with targeted countries like China, Christiana said. But "that flexibility is not unlimited, and it needs to be put in check."

Negative consequences of retaliatory tariffs on the agriculture industry should be cause for concern, he said, and Trump needs to figure out a quick resolution in the coming days or weeks.

Source: Lancaster Online on 2018 Pennsylvania Senate race Apr 7, 2018

Joe Sestak: Supports Ex-Im Bank & supports trade agreements in principle

Sestak contrasted his ideas against opponent Pat Toomey's comments about the Export-Import Bank, a federal agency that provides financing and insurance to businesses that export their products. In a recent letter to fellow senators, Toomey argued that the bank should not be reauthorized because it is "one of the most egregious forms of corporate welfare in our government."

Sestak isn't taking a position yet on a pending trade agreement that the Obama administration argues will create job opportunities by boosting exports. Some Democrats have expressed skepticism that the deal with Japan and other Pacific countries will be beneficial to Pennsylvania.

Sestak said he wants to see the United States, not China, helping set trade guidelines in those countries--a position that Toomey also has outlined. "In principle, I'd like to be for it, because I want to set the rules of the road for trade," Sestaksaid. "Trade is part of our national security."

Source: Mcall.com coverage of 2016 Pennsylvania Senate race May 7, 2015

Joe Sestak: Supports TPP in principle, but verify openly before we trust

Sestak isn't taking a position yet on a pending trade agreement [the Trans-Pacific Partnership] that the Obama administration argues will create job opportunities by boosting exports. Sestak was critical of the Obama administration's not being more forthcoming about the trade negotiations, saying those details should be available before the president seeks a faster approval process for completing the trade deal.

"But don't you trust Obama?" asked one citizen. "I'm a guy that verifies before he trusts," Sestak replied.

In an interview later, Sestak said some U.S. workers have been harmed by past trade deals, particularly those without a college degree. Better job-retraining programs should be put in place to help workers who might be hurt by the ripple effects of a trade agreement, along with tough requirements on labor practices and environmental standards for countries that sign the eventual deal.

Source: Mcall.com coverage of 2016 Pennsylvania Senate race May 7, 2015

John Fetterman: Fight to reverse bad trade policies like NAFTA

It's time we leveled the playing field to narrow the huge disparity of wealth in today's economy. We need a healthy, growing middle class and policies that promote that. As Senator, I will fight to reverse bad trade policies like NAFTA that have sent American jobs overseas, driven down wages and decimated communities like Braddock across Pennsylvania. We need to return to valuing the American worker and blue collar jobs as much as we value white collar, financial jobs.
Source: 2016 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website JohnFetterman.com Apr 1, 2016

Lou Barletta: Use tariffs as leverage to get better trade deals

Q: Support President Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?

Lou Barletta (R): Yes. Supports Trump's using tariffs as leverage to get better trade deals. Says if retaliatory tariffs hurt agriculture, Trump will help them.

Bob Casey (D): Yes. We must go after "trade cheaters" to protect PA jobs.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Pennsylvania Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Mehmet Oz: We need to focus on creating jobs here in America

Dr. Oz believes the United States has failed to respond to the global Chinese threat. Every year we see more and more companies ship American jobs overseas, while failing to stand up to China as they steal our intellectual property and manipulate their currency. Dr. Oz believes we need to focus on creating jobs here in America and rebuilding our supply chain so we can better respond to crises like COVID without relying on the Chinese for things like PPE or other critical infrastructure.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website DoctorOz.com Dec 8, 2021

Pat Toomey: Ex-Im Bank is an egregious forms of corporate welfare

[Democratic opponent Joe] Sestak contrasted his ideas against Toomey's comments about the Export-Import Bank, a federal agency that provides financing and insurance to businesses that export their products. In a recent letter to fellow senators, Toomey argued that the bank should not be reauthorized because it is "one of the most egregious forms of corporate welfare in our government."

Sestak said he wants to see the United States, not China, helping set trade guidelines in those countries--a position that Toomey also has outlined. But Sestak is reserving judgment on whether the agreement will be helpful or harmful until the full details are released. "In principle, I'd like to be for it, because I want to set the rules of the road for trade," he said. "Trade is part of our national security."

Source: Mcall.com coverage of 2016 Pennsylvania Senate race May 7, 2015

Scott Wagner: How can any self-made man not back the free market?

"You know what's amazing is that a guy [George Soros] who came from Hungary, a Hungarian Jew, and made a fortune, and think where he came from, and he has an opinion of America that he does," Wagner said. "It's just amazing to me." Wagner was not trying to disparage Soros' religion, his campaign manager told The Morning Call. Wagner was trying to explain how he doesn't understand Soros' liberal politics, by questioning how Soros does not back free-market interests as a self-made man.
Source: The Morning Call on 2018 Pennsylvania Governor race Aug 25, 2017

Tom Wolf: Create "Made in Pennsylvania" cash-back jobs program

We must bring manufacturing jobs back to our state. We propose the creation of a "Made in Pennsylvania" cash-back jobs program.

For manufacturing companies that increase their annual taxable payroll by at least one million dollars to create solid, middle-class jobs: they will receive cash payments of up to five percent of new taxable income the following year.

And let's go one step further: In our Grant and Loan Programs we should give priority to Pennsylvania companies. We should and we will.

Source: State of the State address to 2015 Pennsylvania Legislature Mar 3, 2015

Val Arkoosh: For robust Buy America policies, incentivize retaining jobs

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how important it is to support American manufacturing that can make the things we need in our daily lives, or during a national emergency, right here at home. That's why she supports boosting American manufacturing and workers through robust Buy America policies and incentives for companies to keep jobs here in Pennsylvania and the U.S., instead of sending them overseas.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website ValArkoosh.com Dec 19, 2021

  • The above quotations are from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 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)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023