Florida 2006 Senate Debate: on Free Trade

Bill Nelson: Pressure China on trade, coupled with North Korea resolution

NELSON: This is the one area that we have trade that we can use as a hook to put pressure on North Korea. And then we can address the balance of trade. One of the things is the way they value their currency. We have been putting pressure on China to re-evaluate so the goods will more normally flow according to their value. But because of our trade deficit, we can use this as leverage to get them to help with the nukes in North Korea, and that would be a good day's work.

HARRIS: The trade deficits have little to do with our interaction in North Korea. We've already had great success there in working with China, South Korea and Japan. They violate intellectual property rights every day. Every product that we market in China can be replicated in China, and it decimates us. We need to ensure that China honors those critical trade pacts. They need to play by the rules.

Katherine Harris: Pressure China on intellectual property rights

NELSON: This is the one area that we have trade that we can use as a hook to put pressure on North Korea. And then we can address the balance of trade. One of the things is the way they value their currency: China should re-evaluate so the goods will more normally flow according to their value.

HARRIS: The trade deficits have little to do with our interaction in North Korea. We've already had great success there in working with China, South Korea and Japan. They violate intellectual property rights every day. Every product that we market in China can be replicated in China, and it decimates us. We need to ensure that China honors those critical trade pacts, honors the same types of standards that we have to follow, including the valuation of their monetary system or any other issue. Their economy is miles wide and centimeters think. In terms of trade deficit, they need to play by the rules.