State of Wisconsin Archives: on Free Trade
Phil Anderson:
Support free trade
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Support & expand free trade"?
A: Support
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Wisconsin Governor candidate
May 18, 2018
Kelda Helen Roys:
Pursue expanded fair trade
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Support & expand free trade"?A: Neither support or oppose--while free trade is important for American businesses and consumers, as well as international diplomacy, many trade agreements have caused a "race
to the bottom" that harms American workers and destroys our environment. We need to pursue expanded fair trade that supports American values--strong support for workers, protecting clean air and water, and fair business and trade practices.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Wisconsin Governor candidate
May 5, 2018
Leah Vukmir:
Tariffs on China give time to negotiate fairer deals
Q: Support President Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?Tammy Baldwin (D): Qualified yes. Send message "to bad actors like China," but support those hurt by retaliatory tariffs.
Leah Vukmir (R):
Qualified yes. Free trade advocate but "willing to give the president the time to negotiate fairer deals."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Mandela Barnes:
Bring manufacturing supply chains home for jobs here
Wisconsin has always done big and bold things. We must build on this success and make further investments into creating thousands of manufacturing jobs. Let's bring manufacturing supply chains home so good jobs like my dad's are being created in
Wisconsin, not overseas. Let's make sure the next generation of solar panels, turbines and batteries are manufactured in the same Wisconsin communities that built today's America.
Source: The Capital Times OpEd for 2022 Wisconsin Senate race
Aug 26, 2021
Mandela Barnes:
Will only back trade deals that puts Wisconsin first
Unfair trade deals like NAFTA are partially to blame for the economic setbacks that Wisconsin has faced.
Mandela will fight to renegotiate old deals and only back trade deals that put Wisconsin workers and manufacturers first.
Source: 2022 Wisconsin Senate campaign website MandelaBarnes.com
Jul 31, 2022
Mike Gallagher:
Smart trade deals protect our sovereignty--not TPP
In Congress, I will fight for smart trade deals that are fair for Wisconsin workers and families, and do not compromise our sovereignty or our national security. I will also fight to reverse the out-of- control regulatory state that is suffocating our
manufacturers and stealing wages from Wisconsin workers, as well as the Obama-Clinton foreign policy weakness that has allowed China and other countries to compromise our economic and national security.Wisconsin's companies need to be able to sell
goods to these other nations. But poorly negotiated trade agreements can put Wisconsin jobs and businesses at risk while letting countries like China break the rules. Unfortunately this President has a track record of negotiating bad deals and TPP fits
that pattern. I don't support the agreement.
When Wisconsin workers compete on a level playing field, we can out-compete and out-work anyone in the world. This starts by having trade agreements that are fair & beneficial for our citizens & employers.
Source: 2016 Wisconsin House campaign website MikeForWisconsin.com
Nov 8, 2016
Rebecca Kleefisch:
Promoted trade with Mexico as Lt. Governor
Kleefisch is in Mexico for a weeklong trade mission. She plans to meet with executives from Mexican companies with business ties with the United States in Monterrey and Mexico City to talk about expanding their operations in Wisconsin.
She also plans to meet with Mexico's national water authority to promote Wisconsin's water technology sector as well as Eduardo Presa, deputy secretary for international affairs and economic development.
Source: Associated Press on WTMJ on 2022 Wisconsin Governor race
Jun 13, 2017
Ron Johnson:
Yes to trade adjustment; Yes to fast-track
Ballotpedia.org analysis of Congressional voting record on trade issues:- Voted YEA on Trade adjustment assistance (TAA): On 5/22/15, the Senate passed the TAA measure in HR 1314 by a vote of 62 to 37. TAA is a federal program providing
American workers displaced by foreign trade agreements with job training and services.
- Voted YEA on Trade promotion authority (TPA): On 6/24/15, the Senate passed a TPA measure by a vote of 60-38, as part of HR 2146 .
TPA would give the president fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements sent to Congress without the opportunity for amendment or filibuster.
Source: Ballotpedia.org coverage of 2016 Wisconsin Senate race
Jun 24, 2015
Russell Feingold:
Opposes lousy trade deals
On the campaign trail, Feingold rails against "lousy trade deals" and whacks Sen. Johnson's record on issues like student loan debt, while noting the
Republican attended the University of Minnesota, prompting groans from the crowd.
Source: Politico.com on 2016 Wisconsin Senate race
Aug 5, 2015
Scott Walker:
Global opportunity: Get WI products out to the world
The state's facing a fundamentally changed marketplace to which we have to respond. Like Wisconsin companies, our competition isn't just next door but also across the world. As a result, we must transform our government and business environment to compet
globally. With global competition also comes global opportunity. For instance, 96% of the world's population live and consume products outside of the US. Wisconsin businesses who want to grow, expand and create new, good-paying jobs need to be able to
get their products out to the world in a cost-effective manner. That means a strong transportation network in Wisconsin; re-prioritizing our transportation investments. I challenged the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to look at new ways to
reconstruct our state's busiest interchange--the Zoo Interchange--which is used by 350,000 people a day. Our transportation leaders met the challenge and developed a plan that will start the project ahead of schedule and save the taxpayer's $600 million.
Source: 2011 Wisconsin State of the State Address
Feb 1, 2011
Scott Walker:
Milk exports up; but also ginseng exports to China
Agricultural exports grew by 6% through the first three quarters of 2013, while dairy exports grew by 34%.We made major investments in agriculture this year. At the University of Wisconsin, we are expanding the Dairy Resource Center at Babcock Hall
and building a new Meat Science and Muscle Biology Laboratory.
We are proud to be America's Dairyland, but we are also one of the top states for corn, soybeans, potatoes, cherries, and other foods. Many may be surprised to know we are the number one
producer of cranberries in the US. And 95% of the ginseng exported to China comes from our state. Last April, we signed a ten-year agreement while on my trade mission in China worth between $150 and $200 million.
Not only is Asia a major market for our
ginseng, many people now come to north central Wisconsin to tour our ginseng operations. Food- and beverage-related tourism continues to grow. From tours of breweries, cheese factories, and even spice operations, Wisconsin is a great destination.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Wisconsin legislature
Jan 22, 2014
Scott Walker:
Trump's tariffs on China harm Wisconsin companies
Q: Support Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?Tony Evers (D): No.
Scott Walker (R): No. Tariffs will harm Wisconsin companies. Asked Trump to reconsider.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Tammy Baldwin:
Tariffs send message to bad actors like China
Q: Support President Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?Tammy Baldwin (D): Qualified yes. Send message "to bad actors like China," but support those hurt by retaliatory tariffs.
Leah Vukmir (R):
Qualified yes. Free trade advocate but "willing to give the president the time to negotiate fairer deals."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Tony Evers:
Opposes Trump's tariffs on China
Q: Support Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?Tony Evers (D): No.
Scott Walker (R): No. Tariffs will harm Wisconsin companies. Asked Trump to reconsider.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Tony Evers:
Build Wisconsin's dairy brand in international markets
We've endured the consequences of unnecessary and unproductive tariffs and trade wars. The package of bills we'll announce includes a bill creating the Wisconsin Initiative for Dairy Exports. We have to start maximizing efficiency in our small and
middle-sized farms, and we need to build Wisconsin's dairy brand in international markets and increase dairy exports. So, we're going to set a goal of increasing Wisconsin's dairy exports to 20 percent of the United States' milk supply by 2024.
Source: 2020 Wisconsin State of the State address
Jan 22, 2020
Tony Evers:
Trump's tariffs are not good for our country, simple as that
Evers says he's bracing for how Trump's tariffs will affect Wisconsin, arguing Tuesday that it will hurt the state's budget process and several key industries. Speaking on the day import taxes went into effect on goods from the United States' top three
trading partners, Evers said there are other ways to make trade fairer for America. "This is not good for our country. Simple as that," Evers said. "It sucks. It's bad. It's no good. I'm irritated."
Source: WPR.org (NPR News) on 2026 Wisconsin Gubernatorial race
Mar 4, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026