Kay Hagan in The Associated Press

On Free Trade: Fix trade agreements to avoid job loss

Kay Hagan slammed her rival for backing free trade agreements despite concerns about North Carolina jobs. But the Democratic challenger called for fixing--not removing--such agreements. Hagan unveiled her trade policies, [focusing on] unemployment and trade policy.

Hagan released papers that question why her opponent, Sen. Elizabeth Dole, would support pacts such as the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Critics say the North American partner of the agreement accelerated the decline of North Carolina’s manufacturing and textile industries.

CAFTA supporters, however, say it does the opposite. Dole helped approve the CAFTA agreement in 2005, arguing the pact would remove tariffs in other countries and bring North Carolina products to a new marketplace. She said sectors such as agriculture and pharmaceuticals would benefit. Dole also said it would benefit the textile industry because American fabric would be used in Central America.

Source: By Mike Baker, Associated Press, on WRAL Jul 25, 2008

On Free Trade: Would have voted against CAFTA due to labor concerns

Hagan’s trade policy doesn’t call for the removal of CAFTA or NAFTA. Instead, Hagan wants to modify the pacts so they include enforceable labor and environmental standards to hold other countries accountable and to prevent companies from moving their operations to places without controls. And she wants the Department of Justice to have the authority to enforce trade agreements.

“When done right, trade opens up nations to new products, new opportunities, and new ideas,” Hagan wrote in introducing her plan. Her campaign said she would have voted against CAFTA as it is written.

Hagan also wants to increase government funding for research and development and increase access to technology in rural parts of the country. She would also expand tuition tax credits to improve education. Hagan’s plan does not detail how she would pay for the programs.

Source: By Mike Baker, Associated Press, on WRAL Jul 25, 2008

The above quotations are from Columns and news articles distributed by the Associated Press. Click here for other excerpts from Columns and news articles distributed by the Associated Press. Click here for other excerpts by Kay Hagan. Click here for a profile of Kay Hagan.
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 15, 2019