Council on Foreign Relations: on Free Trade
Deval Patrick:
Deeper trade ties between U.S. and China
Patrick has issued no policy proposals relating to China or the ongoing trade war, though as governor of Massachusetts he advocated for deeper trade ties between the two countries.As governor, he made his first foreign trade mission to Beijing in
2007, where he spoke of Massachusetts's historic trade ties to China.
During his tenure, he worked to arrange direct Boston-Beijing flights, deepen U.S.-China research cooperation, and increase U.S. companies' investment in China.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 24, 2019
Joe Walsh:
Everybody loses in a trade war with China
Walsh's comments on China have focused on criticizing Trump's trade war and advocating for free trade. He opposes Trump's escalating tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese imports, arguing that "everybody loses in a trade war."
He says that the tariffs amount to a tax increase on the middle class and that Beijing's retaliation is "devastating to our farmers." He calls Trump's claim that tariffs are paid by for by China "absurd."
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Dec 24, 2019
Mike Bloomberg:
Trade with China is good for consumers & the US economy
Bloomberg has been a proponent of deeper trade and investment ties with China and he opposes President Trump's trade war with Beijing. He says the US must work closely with China on climate change and other issues, and has drawn scrutiny for his
business relationships in the country.He has advanced a more moderate view of China's leadership than some other candidates, saying in 2019 that Chinese President Xi Jinping is "not a dictator" and that Beijing is making progress on climate goals.
He opposes Trump's trade war with China, calling it a "failure of our government" and arguing that it is hurting the economy, costing jobs, and slowing innovation. He says China's unfair trade practices need to be addressed through negotiation.
He argues that trade with China is good for consumers and the US economy, but that China needs to further open its markets to US companies. He has previously said that expanded trade puts pressure on Beijing to "act responsibly" on the world stage.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 24, 2019
Mike Bloomberg:
Supports TPP and opposes trade war with China
Bloomberg argues that free trade with China and others is not a "zero-sum game" and is instead good for consumers and the U.S. economy. He has also said that expanded trade puts pressure on Beijing to "act responsibly" on the world stage.
He supported the Obama administration's Asia-Pacific trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Trump rejected.
He opposes Trump's trade war with China, arguing that it is hurting the economy, costing jobs, and slowing innovation. He calls for China to further open its markets to
U.S. companies and says that its unfair trade practices need to be addressed through negotiation. He has argued in the wake of Trump's imposition of tariffs that Congress should exert more oversight over presidential trade powers.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 24, 2019
Mike Bloomberg:
Vocal defender of global trade and multinational trade deals
Bloomberg is a vocal defender of global trade & multinational trade deals. "International trade plays a vital role in addressing global challenges," he says. He supported the Obama administration's Asia-Pacific trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership,
which Trump rejected. Through his US-Africa Business Forum, he has been a proponent of expanding trade and investment ties with African countries. Bloomberg Philanthropies also brings together government and business leaders to promote trade.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 24, 2019
Tom Steyer:
No trade war, but stand up to China on intellectual property
Steyer calls China a competitor, but says that "like it or not" the United States has to maintain a political and economic relationship with Beijing. Steyer opposes President Donald J. Trump's trade war with China but says the
United States must "stand up strongly" to Beijing's theft of U.S. intellectual property.
He believes that Trump's America First policy has created a void in international power politics that China and Russia are eager to fill.
He says the United States should respond to abuses by authorities in Hong Kong by creating a coalition of democracies to push back, rather than seeking a bilateral solution.
He argues that the United States can't isolate itself from China, since working with China on climate and regional security will require maintaining a good relationship with Beijing.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 24, 2019
Susan Rice:
Deal with challenge from China in lockstep with allies
I think that we face a significant and urgent challenge from China, particularly in the economic realm and with respect to technology. China is poised, through its capacity and its policies, to be a major economic threat. I think we're dealing with it
almost altogether wrong. To me, for the United States to be maximally effective in pressing our economic agenda with China, we ought to be doing it in lockstep with our allies and partners--the Europeans, others in Asia, Canada.
China is becoming more and more aggressive and assertive in this whole realm in trying to shut down anything that they don't like with respect to speech and democratization, human rights. They are being extremely extraterritorial about it.
And they are going to punish people. My view is that the companies that are going to succeed--if they are American-based companies or originally American companies--are the ones that aren't going to take that crap, that aren't going to be intimidated.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 Veepstakes
Nov 14, 2019
Marianne Williamson:
Take strong position on China on human rights & business
China is aggressively engaging in theft, practicing commercial espionage, and ignoring intellectual-property rights as well as trampling on human rights and democracy in their drive to dominate global markets. The US must maintain a strong position
regarding China with regard to economics, politics, and human rights. China's treatment of the Uighurs and of Hong Kong reflect their aggressive drive for domination and their disdain for human rights and democracy.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Aug 16, 2019
Marianne Williamson:
No TPP without greater protections for workers & environment
Q: Under what circumstances would you support the United States joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership?
WILLIAMSON: The TPP would need greater protections for workers and the environment for me to support it.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Aug 16, 2019
Bill de Blasio:
Dislikes multilateral trade deals, including NAFTA and TPP
Like other Democratic candidates running under the progressive banner, de Blasio dislikes America's trade deals. During the second round of Democratic debates he criticized Trump for "trying to sell NAFTA 2.0.
He's got a new name for it. It's just as dangerous as the old NAFTA. It's going to take away American jobs like the old NAFTA, like it did to Michigan.
And we cannot have Democrats be party to a new NAFTA." He has been a long-time critic of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Back in 2015 he said it would be a "huge mistake" for
Congress to approve so-called fast-track treatment of the deal. What's unclear is what kinds of trade deal would meet de Blasio's approval and how many other countries would be willing to meet those terms.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Aug 12, 2019
Andrew Yang:
Partner to help African nations & expand markets
The United States should serve as a partner to the African nations. We should be driven by the motto "African solutions for African problems."
We should facilitate American entrepreneurs to partner with African entrepreneurs in technology--especially energy, agriculture, civil society, and beyond.
We need to restructure our trade agreements to offer attractive investment opportunity and to expand markets: by going beyond manufacturing and goods to include services,
intellectual property, fair labor practices, and sustainable environment standards.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Aug 9, 2019
Joe Sestak:
Mistake to withdraw from TPP: creates opening for China
Q: Would you support the US joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), formerly the Trans-Pacific Partnership?SESTAK: I believe we lost an important opportunity to shape the future of
global trade when we withdrew our involvement from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
While that trade agreement was far from perfect, it gave us the chance to set the rules of engagement across a critically important region, within a framework that does not include China.
Our withdrawal sent a worrying signal to our regional friends and allies. In the absence of US global leadership, China will inevitably fill the vacuum.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Pete Buttigieg:
Deals must support workers, but US can't sit on sidelines
Q: Would you support the United States joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), formerly the Trans-Pacific Partnership?BUTTIGIEG: I would not support the US joining the current CPTPP.
It lacks critical trade provisions on labor, environment, and the digital economy, and does not align closely enough with the needs and interests of American workers.
At the same time, we should not surrender the world's fastest growing markets in Asia to other nations. China is negotiating broad new trade agreements with their neighbors that favor China's economy and workers.
Sitting on the sidelines is a losing proposition for America.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Pete Buttigieg:
Support African nations; recognize market opportunities
Africa is not a country: it is a diverse and multifaceted continent of states. Our priorities should include helping our African partners: accountable governance, climate change mitigation and conflict prevention. That continent now boasts some of the
fastest-growing economies in the world, which have lifted millions out of poverty and into the global marketplace. Sub-Saharan Africa represents one of the biggest opportunities for new markets for US goods and investment.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Seth Moulton:
Deals must help Americans & protect intellectual property
We need to take on China but do so in a smart way. That means working towards a trade deal that helps Americans and American workers; building a cyber wall to keep our intellectual property safe in the face of
Chinese aggression; and establishing a Pacific version of NATO to counter the growing security threat China poses to the region.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Seth Moulton:
China steps in when US doesn't lead on trade deals
Under Trump, we've seen what happens when the United States doesn't lead in these multilateral efforts: China steps in and tries to remake the world in their autocratic, illiberal image. For that reason and more, my administration would re-engage in the
TPP negotiations, focusing on strengthening labor and environmental standards. The goal must be to conclude a strong, fair trade deal for the Pacific on our terms, not China's.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Stacey Abrams:
Trade policy should not be based on brinksmanship
I think the responsibility of foreign policy leaders is to remind domestic communities that it matters how people operate abroad because it increases our national security if they're not angry with us. It increases our national security if we are making
smart policies about access to weapons but also access to medicines. It's connecting the dots so that people recognize that we are part of a global community, and that we are safer and stronger and more effective when we have foreign allies.
The only solution will be to engage in trade policy and a trade engagement that is not based on brinksmanship, which is what we've seen play out for the last few years. For many states, our agricultural sector is the number-one industry.
When you cut off those who are exporting our goods, you are hurting our farmers at home. They cannot afford it. And we are undermining our national security by undermining our economic security.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2022 Georgia Governor race
May 10, 2019
Kamala Harris:
Opposed TPP for invalidating California environmental laws
Harris opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership, though for different reasons than Trump did. During the 2016 election, she argued that its adoption meant "invalidating California's landmark climate change and environmental laws."
She also argued that the agreement wasn't transparent.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 candidates
Feb 11, 2019
Joe Biden:
US must take lead on free trade, but deal with uneven impact
Globalization, man, it's been wonderful. It's not been wonderful for an awful lot of people. It is applied very, very unevenly. We fail to recognize that there are genuine dislocations when we talk about TPP and trade. The truth of the matter is,
if we're not pushing on the establishment of an international order and fully engaged internationally, there is little likelihood that there will be 21st century rules of the road that can accommodate the change that's taking place.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 candidates
Sep 21, 2016
Page last updated: Mar 16, 2022