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Ralph Norman on Free Trade

 

 


Increased prices from tariffs for the good of the country

Rep. Ralph Norman acknowledged that the public is seeing higher prices as a result of tariffs imposed by President Trump. "I think a lot of people are seeing higher prices. Our family's in the construction business, and we get a lot of our timber from Canada and other countries. Yes, it's higher. Steel prices are up, but it's for the good of the country," Norman said when asked to explain the network's poll showing that 55% of Americans disapproved of the president's handling of the economy.
Source: The Hill "High prices," on 2026 South Carolina Governor race , Aug 9, 2025

Implement USMCA for improved North American trade.

Norman voted YEA USMCA Implementation Act

Summary from Congressional Record and Wikipedia:Vote to amend the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and establish the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Rather than a wholly new agreement, it has been characterized as `NAFTA 2.0`; final terms were negotiated on September 30, 2018 by each country. The agreement is scheduled to come into effect on July 1, 2020.

Case for voting YES by Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL); (Dec. 19, 2019)The USMCA includes stronger protections for American workers and enforceable labor standards, as well as environmental protections. It eliminates the Trump Administration`s threat that the US could walk away entirely from the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, which would devastate US jobs and our economy.

Case for voting NO by Jared Huffman (D-CA); (Dec. 19, 2019) Democratic negotiators did a lot to improve Donald Trump`s weak trade deal, especially in terms of labor standards and enforcement, but the final deal did not reach the high standard that I had hoped for. The NAFTA renegotiations were a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lift labor and environmental standards across the continent--to lock in serious climate commitments with two of our largest trading partners and dramatically improve labor standards and enforcement to slow the rise of outsourcing.

Legislative outcome: Bill Passed (Senate) (89-10-1) - Jan. 16, 2020; bill Passed (House) (385-41-5) - Dec. 19, 2019; signed at the G20 Summit simultaneously by President Trump, Mexican President Enrique Nieto, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Nov. 30, 2018

Source: Congressional vote 19-HR5430 on Dec 19, 2019

Other governors on Free Trade: Ralph Norman on other issues:
SC Gubernatorial:
Joe Cunningham
Mia McLeod
SC Senatorial:
Gloria Bromell Tinubu
Jaime Harrison
Krystle Matthews
Tim Scott

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Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org