State of Michigan Archives: on Free Trade

John James: Fight China over soybeans now, or bullets later

Gretchen Whitmer: Important to continue traveling to Israel to support trade

Bill Schuette: Supports tariffs on China, to get a better deal

Bill Schuette (R): Yes. Believes Trump has his own "aggressive style" as he works to rebalance trade relationships. "In the end, I think it will be a good deal."

Gretchen Whitmer (D): No. Renegotiate trade deals but fears longlasting negative consequences from new tariffs & chaos caused by Trump's "disorderly rollout."

Gretchen Whitmer: Renegotiate trade deals, but no tariffs on China

Bill Schuette (R): Yes. Believes Trump has his own "aggressive style" as he works to rebalance trade relationships. "In the end, I think it will be a good deal."

Gretchen Whitmer (D): No. Renegotiate trade deals but fears longlasting negative consequences from new tariffs & chaos caused by Trump's "disorderly rollout."

John James: Let master negotiator Trump re-work trade deals

John James (R): Torn between adequately funding the military & working toward a balanced budget with less debt. On tariffs, calls Trump "a master negotiator."

Debbie Stabenow (D): Supports major infrastructure spending. On tariffs, supports stopping Chinese dumping of certain products but calls for "a more thoughtful, targeted approach."

John James: Free but fair trade, to keep jobs in Michigan

Abdul El-Sayed: Free trade deals favor elites over workers

Marcia Squier: Replace free trade deals with zero export taxes

A: Oppose--I want zero export taxes and varying import taxes, depending on the percentage of American-made products.

Jack Bergman: I support free and fair trade, not TPP

Every trade bill should be evaluated based on how it benefits American workers. Every member of Congress takes an oath to protect and guard the nation from forces that threaten it--both militarily and economically. Every proposed trade agreement should ensure that Americans are competing on a level playing field. I know American businesses and labor will outwork any foreign competition and build a better product.

Brenda Lawrence: Oppose TPP, NAFTA, and similar trade deals

Brenda Lawrence: I do not support any trade deals that take jobs out of the US, or allow currency manipulation to cheat the US. While we do live in a global economy and we must resolve to balance the scales. We should not enter into any agreement that would allow any other country or countries to be given an advantage in trade that will take jobs and financial benefits out of the US.

Marcia Squier (Green Party): I absolutely do NOT support the TPP, the TTIP, the TISA, or any other similar trade deal! They will eliminate jobs, not create them. Those of us from the Motor City know how disastrous NAFTA was and is to the auto industry. The TPP is known as NAFTA on steroids.

Marcia Squier: Oppose TPP, NAFTA, and similar trade deals

Marcia Squier: I absolutely do NOT support the TPP, the TTIP, the TISA, or any other similar trade deal! They will eliminate jobs, not create them. Those of us from the Motor City know how disastrous NAFTA was and is to the auto industry. The TPP is known as NAFTA on steroids, especially since corporations will be able to sue municipalities for prevention of future profit, regardless of any environmental or human-rights violations. Corporations should never be allowed to overrule the law of the land. If that happens, we will be powerless to stop human suffering and planetary destruction.

Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Dem.): While we do live in a global economy and we must resolve to balance the scales. We should not enter into any agreement that would allow any other country or countries to be given an advantage in trade that will take jobs and financial benefits out of the US.

Donald Trump: I've been moving clothing-making from China to U.S.

Q: Will you promise that you will move your clothing collection to the US, the clothes that are made in China and Mexico?

TRUMP: I will do that. And by the way, I have been doing it more and more. But they devalue their currencies, in particular China. Mexico is doing a big number now, also. Japan is unbelievable what they're doing. They devalue their currencies, and they make it impossible for clothing-makers in this country to do clothing in this country. The Trans-Pacific Partnership--which Marco is in favor of---they don't take into concurrence the devaluation. They're devaluing their currency.

RUBIO: The answer is, he's not going to do it. And you know why? The reason why he makes it in China or Mexico is because he can make more money on it.

Terri Lynn Land: Free trade agreements only with reciprocal market access

Current Trade Negotiations:
• Finalize U.S.-European free trade agreement (FTA): Trade agreements that are reciprocal, such as the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), should become a high priority. Once the respective standards have been harmonized, trade agreements that open up new markets for American-made products on equal terms should be implemented promptly.
• Rewrite U.S.-Asian free trade agreement: Unless major changes are made to ensure reciprocal market access in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), this FTA should not move forward. Unlike in the past, the U.S. should walk away from bad trade deals.

Rick Snyder: Took 24 attempts to get New International Trade Crossing

Rick Snyder: Open new doors to global markets

This is our chance to show the world what we already know: Michigan's farmers and workers are the best in the world. As more foreign consumers see what Michigan has to offer, demand for our products will continue to climb.

Rick Snyder: Increase Canada trade with new Detroit River bridge

Rick Wade: NEI: government-wide export-promotion strategy

And the export part of our portfolio has become even more important of late with the announcement of President Obama's National Export Initiative (NEI), which aims to double American exports over the next five years and support two million jobs here at home.

The NEI represents the first time the US will have a government-wide export-promotion strategy with. The NEI will be primarily focused on:

• improving government trade promotion in all its forms;
• expanding export credit to businesses--especially small and medium-sized ones; and
• Increasing the government's focus on knocking down barriers that prevent U.S. companies from getting free and open access to foreign markets.

Jack Hoogendyk: Mirror trade policy of other nations

• I support free trade that mirrors trade policy of other nations.
• I am opposed to any treaties that subordinate U.S. sovereignty to other nations.

Duncan Hunter: Reflect tariffs back at competitors

So we’re short on good businessmen, and I would junk those bad trade deals, bring them back to the table, and I’d practice mirror trade. If a country wants to put a 15 percent tariff against the United States, they’re going to see that reflected back at them. If they want to take it down to 1 percent, we’ll take it down to one, but there’s not going to be a one-way street any longer.

Fred Thompson: Focus on protecting infrastructure for national security

A: : The answer is yes. Dubai would own 20% of NASDAQ, but NASDAQ, under this deal, as I understand it, would gain more than 30% of the Dubai company. It all depends on national security issues. Doesn’t seem to be one there. But we should look at all these deals carefully because we have a vast infrastructure. The great portion of it is in private hands. There’s no way, frankly, we can protect it all. So we need to do everything that we can to make sure that we’re doing all that we can to protect the infrastructure we’ve got and scrutinize these deals, number one, first and foremost, from a national security standpoint.

John McCain: Every time US went protectionist, we paid heavy price

John McCain: Supports ethanol, but by exporting, not by subsidies

Mike Huckabee: We need fair trade because we’re losing jobs

And that’s why we’re losing jobs here, and that’s what has to change. This party is going to have to start addressing it, or we’re going to get our britches beat next year.

Mitt Romney: Open up markets to American goods and services

A: Well, I believe in trade, but I believe in opening up markets to American goods and services. And it’s been calculated that the average family in America is $9,000 a year richer because we have the ability to sell products around the world, and a lot of people in this country make their living making products that go around the world. I want to make sure that the American worker gets a fair shake. We need to make sure that the Chinese begin to float their currency, and they protect our designs and our patents and our technology. We need to make sure that the American workers don’t have to carry the burden of extra taxes as we sell our products around the world. They come here without that tax embedded. We can do a better job, and I want to do a better job for the American worker.

Mitt Romney: Businesspeople should negotiate trade, not politicians

I think I’m probably the only guy on the stage who’s spent most of his career in the business world. I understand how the economy works. I understand how if you make a certain adjustment in the agreement, it’s going to have a huge impact on the United States.

And so for instance, if we agree to sit down with China, I understand that if we don’t get real careful and protect patents and designs and technology, intellectual property is going to get stolen by the Chinese. I recognize we’re going to have to have people who understand how the business world works, how the economy works, and make sure that the playing field really is level by having people that understand the economy and the business world being part of that effort.

Rudy Giuliani: Good deals pending with Peru, Colombia, Panama, South Korea

A: I think we’re on a verge of going in one direction or another. I mean, for example, if you want to get specific, the four trade deals with Peru, Colombia, Panama, South Korea that are in front of Congress right now, which the Democrats are trying to block, would be good deals for the US. In 3 of the 4 of them, we would actually get to export more than we’re importing. Why they would want to block this I can’t understand. We’re already importing about 98% from those countries. [Regarding protectionism], I think you got to almost separate them into two different categories. There’s economic protection, and then there’s protection for safety, security and legal rights. And I don’t think we’ve done a particularly good job on the second. We can’t say because these agreements weren’t perfect, because they have problems, because they have issues, we’re going to turn our back on free trade.

Rudy Giuliani: Balance foreign debt by selling more things overseas

A: Actually, the way to balance that is to sell more things overseas. That’s the usual Democratic pessimistic approach. How about we try an optimistic approach? The way to balance the books is sell more overseas. Sell energy independence. Sell health care. Let’s do it in a positive way.

Tom Tancredo: Enforce trade & currency rules against China

Tom Tancredo: CAFTA should be about trade; get rid of immigration parts

In particular, of course, I’m talking about the immigration-related issues. I offered an amendment on the floor of the House during the debate on CAFTA, the Central America Free Trade Agreement, to say that there will be no immigration issues contained inside of a trade package. It was defeated.

We are talking about trade issues that actually begin to impact our national sovereignty. There’s the problem. We are reducing the importance of borders and increasing the threat to national sovereignty with the kind of trade programs that we put through up to this point in time.

Debbie Stabenow: End trade agreements to keep jobs here

STABENOW: Yes. I supported tax cuts for businesses here to keep jobs here. We need to create a race to the top.

BOUCHARD: She’s voted for MFN status for China - but complains about China and Bush.

Mike Bouchard: Trade agreements should be fair and enforceable

The best trade deal in the world doesn’t benefit us if our partners don’t keep their side of the agreement. We need to remain vigilant to ensure those trade agreements already in force are being monitored carefully and enforced vigorously.

Mike Bouchard: Associates CAFTA with currency manipulation

Gary Bauer: Entrepreneurial China trade same as with totalitarian Cuba

BAUER: You just made the case for withdrawing MFN status from China. Everything that you just said about Cuba applies to China.

BUSH: There is a huge difference between trading with an entrepreneurial class like that which is growing in China and allowing a Castro government to skim capital monies off the top of capital investment.

BAUER: Tell the people rotting in the prisons of China that there’s any difference between Castro’s Cuba & Communist China. There is none.

BUSH: If we turn our back on the entrepreneurial class that is taking wing in China, we’re making a huge mistake.

BAUER: They are using that money for a massive arms buildup that our sons will have to deal with down the road.