Bill Bradley on Free Trade

China
Other issues under Free Trade

Open trade raises prosperity and increases freedom

The passage of NAFTA and GATT increased US export markets by reducing tariff and trade barriers globally and put a damper on US inflation by allowing entry of lower-cost imports. Open trade gives people the freedom to buy whatever they want, no matter what country the goods come from; it raises the income of the world’s poorest nations, thereby allowing them to make investments in public heath and education; it generates the wealth that in part can be used to clean up the environment- in short, it raises living standards and increases freedom. A rule-based multilateral trading system also provides hundreds of million of people with a stake in maintaining global security. For the US, open trade means the likelihood of continued prosperity. What the world needs and wants are the things we do best. Source: The Journey From Here, by Bill Bradley, p.126-27 Aug 15, 2000

WTO is first step in worldwide economic system

The World Trade Organization is only a first step in building a foundation for a stable worldwide economic system. It will consist of a series of strategic economic partnerships and institutions (including a reformed International Monetary Fund and World Bank) designed to promote global security and economic health as well as other non-economic objectives such as orderly immigration, efficient criminal prosecution, and a clean and healthy environment. Source: The Journey From Here, by Bill Bradley, p.138 Aug 15, 2000

Keep tabs on China using WTO

Q:To what extent would you commit American military power to defend Taiwan?
A: There’s another dimension to our relationship with China. It’s the economic dimension. I’d rather have China inside the world-trading system, subject to multilateral rules than I would have China outside the system making bilateral deals and playing one country off against another. Source: Democrat debate in Los Angeles Mar 1, 2000

All refugees should be granted rights to stay in US

Q: Should the wet-foot-dry-foot law be expanded to include groups other than Cubans? A: People who come to our shores as refugees have a right to remain because they’re fleeing tyranny, not just Communist tyranny. We ought to ensure that they can stay and have the same legal rights as everybody else. The 1996 Immigration Law created some problems that we need to rectify. We’re all immigrants in this country. So I think immigration is what we are as a country. It should be celebrated. Source: Democrat Debate in Des Moines, Iowa Jan 17, 2000

Rely on the WTO to export beef to Europe

Q: What would you do to ensure that all American farm products have access to all markets? A: I think the most important thing we can do is to use our authority under the WTO in order to petition to get access to markets. When, for example, Europe blocked our beef because of beef hormones, we went to the WTO. We formed a dispute settlement mechanism. We presented our case, and they ruled in our favor. There’s still delay in the entry of that beef into Europe, but the decision was made. Source: Democrat Debate in Johnston Iowa Jan 8, 2000

More truck inspectors at Mexican border, within NAFTA

Bradley sided with the Teamsters unions in its request to block Mexican trucks with imported goods from crossing the US border until more inspectors are hired. While Bradley helped to write NAFTA, he hoped his support of the delay of the truck-crossing measure would translate into union support. Source: Boston Globe, p. A6 Oct 13, 1999

NAFTA, WTO, and world trade solve economic problems

I was a strong backer of NAFTA. I think it’s created more positive results than negative. Some people have been hurt by it. Those people ought to be helped. But I think that, overall, it’s a benefit to the country. I also was a major backer of the WTO. I think that the answer to a lot of our economic problems is more trade, more fairly shared worldwide. Source: NBC’s “Meet the Press” Aug 1, 1999

Smarter workers needed to compete in global market

To compare hourly wages & say we’ll never be able to compete against Mexicans or Chinese. ignores the necessity for Americans in all workplaces to work “smarter”-in the vanguard of technology. Millions of Americans need not lose their jobs as the pace of global change accelerates. Customized production in a domestic plant, not abroad, will be the dominant form of the new economy and will generate new jobs. Above all, workers and managers need to see that lifetime education. is a necessity. Source: Time Present, Time Past, p. 265 Jan 8, 1997

For GATT, NAFTA, & Fast Track; No retaliatory sanctions

Vote NO to sanctions on Japanese products if car parts markets don’t open up. (S Res 118, 5/9/95)
Voted YES to approve and implement GATT (HR 5110, 12/1/94)
Voted YES to approve NAFTA (HR 3450, 11/20/93)
Voted YES to extend fast track authority for GATT (HR 1876, 6/30/93)

Source: Project Vote Smart -- Voting Record May 9, 1995

Bill Bradley on China

Voted against MFN & for linkage to human rights

Voted YES to tie China trade status with human rights. (HR 5318, 10/1/92).
Voted YES to condition most-favored-nation trade status for China on human-rights progress. (HR 2212, 3/18/92)

Source: Project Vote Smart -- Voting Record Oct 1, 1992

Voted NO on imposing trade sanctions on Japan for closed market.

Resolution supporting sanctions on Japanese products if car parts markets don't open up; and seeking sharp reductions in the trade imbalances in car sales and parts through elimination of restrictive Japanese market-closing practices. Bill S Res 118 ; vote number 1995-158 on May 9, 1995

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