State of Kentucky Archives: on Free Trade


Amy McGrath: Pulling out of Trans-Pacific Partnership cost us influence

I support current efforts at trade agreements, not trade wars, because these agreements give us leverage and a common goal and can foster stable relations. When the U.S. pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, we lost strategic and economic influence in the Pacific and created a vacuum that China is all too eager to fill. It is critical that we work with our allies and partners in the region to counter China's advances and ensure the region remains democratic and focused on human rights.
Source: 2020 Kentucky Senate campaign website AmyMcGrath.com Jun 30, 2020

Matt Bevin: 21st century reality means re-negotiating with China

Several Republican governors said they want the trade war between the U.S. and China to end quickly, while emphasizing that they believe President Trump began the tariff war attempting to rectify unfair practices affecting farmers and owners of intellectual property.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin said he and Trump regularly talk by phone about trade and was supportive of ongoing negotiations. "It's moving us into the 21st century reality of trade that exists," Bevin said. "Is it perfect? No."

Source: RouteFifty.com blog on 2019 Kentucky governor's race Jul 9, 2018

Amy McGrath: No reason for tariffs against NATO allies

I fought alongside our NATO allies in Afghanistan (we still do). We all should reject notion that these nations are somehow now a national security threat. It's a lame excuse for Trump's idiotic tariffs.

[President Trump threatened tariffs against Europe and Canada, our NATO allies, to push for their raising their contributions to the NATO military alliance].

Source: Twitter posting on 2018 Kentucky 6th District House race Jun 3, 2018

Jim Gray: Trade deals are a net positive for Kentucky

On international trade, Gray said trade deals had been good to Kentucky, but stopped short of saying whether he supported the trade agreements being debated in Congress. "Kentucky has benefited from trade, there's no question about that," Gray said. "Net positive."

[Gray's opponent Senator Rand] Paul said he supported trade agreements, such as Trans-Pacific Partnership, because they would bring money to Kentucky farmers.

Source: Herald-Leader on 2016 Kentucky Senate race Aug 25, 2016

Alison Grimes: Halt flow of jobs overseas; no subsidies for job exporters

Today, Alison Lundergan Grimes released the following statement pressing Mitch McConnell to support the bipartisan Bring Jobs Home Act through final passage:

"I have emphasized during my campaign the urgent need to halt the flow of good jobs overseas and to start bringing them back to American shores. It is critical to the fight to create good-paying jobs and strengthen the middle class.

"The "Bring Jobs Home Act' is a commendable proposal that deserves broad bipartisan support. It would end taxpayer-funded subsidies for job exporters while providing tax credits for companies that move jobs and business activities from another country to the United States. I strongly support the measure and would vote for it in the Senate.

"Mitch McConnell said it is not a serious bill. That is because he does not take job creation seriously. He is wrong. This is a bill that would produce good-paying jobs for Kentuckians and other Americans."

Source: 2014 Kentucky Senate campaign website, AlisonForKentucky.com Jul 23, 2014

Steve Beshear: New records in exports; thousands of jobs from in-sourcing

In the last three months I've told Kentucky's story on influential programs like Meet the Press, C-SPAN, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. The nation has taken notice about Kentucky setting new records in exports; about us bringing thousands of jobs from places like India, China, Japan, France, Germany, Russia, Australia and Austria; about us moving to #3 in building cars; about us pushing the envelope on research in areas like advanced batteries & health sciences; and about Kentucky outmaneuvering the competition to secure award-winning deals involving Ford, GE and Toyota. In short, [pundits] wanted to talk about Kentucky as a leader in this nation.
Source: 2014 Kentucky State of the State speech Jan 7, 2014

Steve Beshear: Record exports to Asia & Europe means we're importing jobs

We're setting records with our exports, and we're importing jobs and investments from countries like Japan, China, Korea, India, France and Germany. Four years ago, the auto industry was in crisis. Last year, Kentucky auto makers produced more than a million cars and light trucks for the first time since 2007.
Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Kentucky Legislature Feb 6, 2013

Mitch McConnell: Trade agreements allow selling farm products abroad

During the forum, the candidates agreed on several broad policy issues, such as eliminating the capital gains tax. But they frequently traded shots over each other’s political backers. “He’s not going to be for any of these trade agreements that will allow you to sell your products abroad, because the AFL-CIO won’t let him,” McConnell told the Farm Bureau. “He bought into the agenda right down the line.”
Source: 2008 Kentucky Senate debate reported in Herald-Leader Aug 21, 2008

  • The above quotations are from Commonwealth of Kentucky Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Free Trade.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2020 Presidential contenders on Free Trade:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021