Topics in the News: NAFTA
Ron DeSantis on Free Trade
: Jul 6, 2021
Expands program to engage new international markets
[On USMCA Mexico-Canada trade deal]: "International trade continues to support millions of jobs for Florida's export and import businesses," said Gov. Ron DeSantis. "The expansion of Enterprise Florida's Virtual Business Matchmaking program will provide
Florida businesses the opportunity to engage new international markets and build their global client base with a reimbursable grant. This program is another example of how Florida is safely helping companies get back to work."
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Source: Florida Daily on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Donald Trump on Free Trade
: Feb 28, 2021
Trumpism means great trade deals
Many people have asked, "What is Trumpism?" A new term being used more and more. I'm hearing that term more and more. I didn't come up with it. But what it means is great deals, great trade deals. Great ones, not deals where we give away everything, our
jobs, our money, like the USMCA replacement of the horrible NAFTA. NAFTA was one of the worst deals ever made, probably the worst trade deal ever made, and we ended it. A lot of people forget, we ended it.
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Source: Remarks by Pres. Trump at the 2021 CPAC Conference
Mike Pence on Free Trade
: Oct 7, 2020
Vote against USMCA was a vote against jobs
American people deserve to know Senator Kamala Harris was one of only 10 members of the Senate to vote against the USMCA (US-Mexico-Canada Agreement). It was a huge win for American auto workers.
It was a huge win for American farmers. But Senator you said it didn't go far enough on climate change, you put your radical environmental agenda ahead of American jobs.
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Source: 2020 Vice-Presidential Debate in Utah
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Mar 8, 2020
Americans have to compete with people making pennies an hour
Here in Michigan trade has been a disaster. Trade agreements like NAFTA and permanent normal trade relations with China which forced American workers to compete against people making pennies an hour has resulted in the loss of
160,000 jobs here in Michigan. Some four million jobs all over this country. I helped lead the effort against these disastrous trade agreements.
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Source: Meet the Press interview on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Feb 7, 2020
Not one word in USMCA that deals with climate change
What the environmental groups are saying, we're simply exporting fossil fuel emissions to Mexico. There is not one word in that trade agreement that deals with climate change and I don't know how in 2020 you can do that. Second of all, there is, in
terms of outsourcing of jobs, a major crisis in this country. Nobody believes that under this Trump trade agreement that they will not be continued and significant outsourcing of jobs into low wage Mexico.
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Source: 8th Democrat 2020 primary debate, St. Anselm College in NH
Donald Trump on Free Trade
: Feb 4, 2020
Fact-Check:USMCA mostly a cosmetic refreshing of NAFTA
President Trump said, "One of the single biggest promises I made to the American people was to replace the disastrous NAFTA trade deal. I replaced NAFTA and signed the brand new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law. The USMCA will
create nearly 100,000 new high-paying American auto jobs, and massively boost exports for our farmers, ranchers, and factory workers."Fact -Check: The agreement updates NAFTA, covering things such as digital commerce,
which barely existed when the original deal was signed a quarter-century ago. But despite the president's claims, USMCA is mostly a cosmetic refreshing of NAFTA, not a wholesale replacement. On the whole, the USMCA's economic effects are expected
to be modest. The main benefit of the deal is that it avoids the disruption that would have come had Trump made good on his threat to scrap NAFTA with no replacement.
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Source: NPR Fact-Check on 2020 State of the Union address
Doug Burgum on Free Trade
: Jan 29, 2020
We have an amazing relationship with Canada
We have an amazing relationship with Canada, and Canada's our number one trading partner. Thank goodness for the passage finally of the USMCA trading because there are billions of dollars of goods that go back and forth between
North Dakota and Canada every year, and it's fantastic that we've got that long-standing relationship.
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Source: 2020 North Dakota State of the State address
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Jan 14, 2020
Need trade deal that includes stakeholders, not just CEOs
Q: You support the USMCA?SANDERS: It is not so easy to put together new trade legislation. If this is passed, I think it will set us back a number of years. Senator Warren is right in saying we need to bring the stakeholders to the table, the family
farmers here in Iowa and in Vermont and around the country, the environmental community, and the workers. I am sick and tired of trade agreements negotiated by the CEOs of large corporations behind doors.
Sen. Elizabeth WARREN:
I led the fight against the trade deal with Asia and the deal with Europe, because I didn't think it was in the interests of the American people. But we have farmers who are hurting. They are hurting because of Donald Trump's initiated trade wars.
This new trade deal is a modest improvement. It will give some relief to farmers. It will give some relief to workers. I believe we accept that relief, and we get up the next day and fight for a better trade deal.
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Source: 7th Democrat primary debate, on eve of Iowa caucus
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Dec 19, 2019
USMCA agreement does not prevent outsourcing or talk climate
Q: Will you support the trade agreement among the US, Canada, and Mexico, recently passed by the House?Sanders: I voted against NAFTA, voted against PNC with China, agreements that cost four million decent-paying jobs. I don't agree this is going to
be a great job creator. This is a modest improvement that would allow Mexican workers to negotiate decent contracts. But it is not going to stop outsourcing. It is not going to stop corporations from moving to Mexico. We need a trade policy that stands
up for workers, stands up for farmers, and, by the way, the word "climate change" is not discussed, which is an outrage. I will not be voting for this agreement.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar: I am voting for it; I believe we have a change with this agreement.
We've got better labor standards, better environmental standards, and a better deal when it comes to the pharmaceutical provision. While Senator Sanders is correct, there are some issues with it, is much better than the one originally proposed.
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Source: Newshour/Politico/PBS December Democratic primary debate
Joe Biden on Free Trade
: Sep 12, 2019
Either we make up trade policy, or China will
Sen. Bernie SANDERS: Joe Biden and I strongly disagree on trade. I helped lead the opposition to NAFTA and PNTR, which cost this country over 4 million good-paying jobs.BIDEN: Yeah, well, look, we're either going to make policy or China's going to
make the rules of the road. We make up 25 percent of the world economy. We need another 25 percent to join us. And I think-Senator Warren is correct: At the table has to be labor and at the table have to be environmentalists. The fact of the matter is,
China--the problem isn't the trade deficit, the problem is they're stealing our intellectual property. The problem is they're violating the WTO. They're dumping steel and dumping agricultural products on us. In addition to that, we're in a position
where, if we don't set the rules, we, in fact, are going to find ourselves with China setting the rules. And that's why you need to organize the world to take on China, to stop the corrupt practices that are underway.
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Source: September Democratic Primary debate in Houston
Joe Biden on Free Trade
: Jul 31, 2019
Labor should be involved in renegotiating NAFTA/USMCA
NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio [to Biden]: Are you ready to say that you will oppose a new NAFTA and that what you believe in is trade treaties that empower organized labor across the world and give working people power, not just multinational corporations?
Biden: Yes.
Q: That's it?
Biden: He said, would I insist that labor be engaged? The answer is yes.
De Blasio: I consider that a victory.
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Source: July Democratic Primary debate (second night in Detroit)
Marianne Williamson on Free Trade
: Jul 17, 2019
Demand changes to post-NAFTA agreement USMCA
Williamson on NAFTA/USMCA: Demand changes to USMCA.15 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Joe Biden; Cory Booker; Pete Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Bill de Blasio; Kirsten Gillibrand; Kamala Harris; John Hickenlooper; Jay Inslee; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke;
Tim Ryan; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren.
The majority of Democratic candidates want changes made to the agreement before it comes up for a vote in Congress, focusing on making changes to labor standards,
environmental provisions, access to medicines and enforcement of the deal. Seventeen candidates, asked by Citizens Trade Campaign, a national coalition pushing for changes to USMCA, agreed that Congress should not approve the deal until changes have been
made.
Mayor de Blasio has been among the most vocal candidates in expressing his opposition. "It's got a different name, but it's still NAFTA," he told CNN in July. "It's even worse in some ways. It gives even more power to corporations this time."
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Source: Politico "2020Dems on the Issues"
Kamala Harris on Free Trade
: Jul 17, 2019
Demand changes to post-NAFTA agreement USMCA
Harris on NAFTA/USMCA: Demand changes to USMCA.15 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Joe Biden; Cory Booker; Pete Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Bill de Blasio; Kirsten Gillibrand; John Hickenlooper; Jay Inslee; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke;
Tim Ryan; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Marianne Williamson.
The majority of Democratic candidates want changes made to the agreement before it comes up for a vote in Congress, focusing on labor & environmental standards.
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Source: Politico "2020Dems on the Issues"
Doug Burgum on Free Trade
: Jun 20, 2019
Supports trade deal with Mexico/Canada
Burgum said in a statement that American producers "are among the world's best and can compete with anyone on a level playing field, and that the
USMCA "represents a tremendous opportunity to advance free and fair trade." Mexico and Canada are North Dakota's largest trading partners.
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Source: AgWeek on 2020 North Dakota gubernatorial race
Kristi Noem on Free Trade
: Jun 20, 2019
Supports trade deal with Mexico/Canada
Noem said in a statement that the USMCA would "increase potential for global trade while giving producers the stability to grow, invest,
and create more jobs in South Dakota" in a time when "farmers and ranchers need added market opportunities and certainty."
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Source: South Dakota gubernatorial press release in AgWeek
Kamala Harris on Free Trade
: May 12, 2019
Trade agreements should address climate change
I would not have voted for NAFTA, and because I believe that we can do a better job to protect American workers. I also believe that we need to do a better job in terms of thinking about the priorities that should be
more apparent now perhaps than they were, which are issues like the climate crisis, and what we need to do to build into these trade agreements.
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Source: CNN SOTU 2019 interview of presidential hopefuls
Asa Hutchinson on Free Trade
: Apr 5, 2019
$2.1B Arkansas trade with Canada & Mexico
The new agreement is known as the United States Mexico Canada Agreement, or USMCA. The pact will replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.We can't know for sure the harm the state would suffer without an agreement but the loss in
trade and jobs would be significant. The numbers show the benefit when we can freely and fairly export to our North American partners. Canada is Arkansas's largest trading partner. Our neighbor to the north imported more than $1.2 billion worth of
Arkansas products in 2018. That is almost 19 percent of our total exports. Mexico, our second-largest partner, imported nearly $900 million worth of our goods last year.
We can't overemphasize the importance of the free flow of commerce between our North American neighbors. I have written our Senate leadership and asked them to ratify this trade agreement, which is so important to Arkansas.
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Source: Presidential 2024 campaign press release:USTR on USMCA
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Feb 6, 2019
FactCheck: NAFTA displaced 851,700; but net loss 15,000/year
CLAIM: Trump, in urging Congress to support his new trade agreement, said he had met men and women across the country whose "dreams were shattered by NAFTA" [implying job losses].FACT-CHECK: One analysis of the Clinton-era North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) found that about 851,700 U.S. jobs were displaced by the U.S. trade deficit with Mexico between 1993 (shortly before NAFTA was implemented) and 2014. That's a data point that was cited by Bernie Sanders during his
2016 campaign, when he frequently decried job losses due to NAFTA.
A 2014 study found that while NAFTA has caused about 203,000 jobs to be displaced by NAFTA-related imports annually, imports support 188,000 new jobs, leading to a net loss of only
about 15,000 annually.
And the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service wrote in 2017 that "in reality, NAFTA did not cause the huge job losses feared by the critics... because trade with Canada & Mexico accounts for a small percentage of U.S. GDP."
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Source: NBC News Fact-Check on 2019 State of the Union address
Donald Trump on Free Trade
: Feb 6, 2019
FactCheck: NAFTA displaced 851,700; but net loss 15,000/year
CLAIM: Trump, in urging Congress to support his new trade agreement, said he had met men and women across the country whose "dreams were shattered by NAFTA" [implying job losses].FACT-CHECK: One analysis of the Clinton-era North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) found that about 851,700 U.S. jobs were displaced by the U.S. trade deficit with Mexico between 1993 (shortly before NAFTA was implemented) and 2014. That's a data point that was cited by Bernie Sanders during his
2016 campaign, when he frequently decried job losses due to NAFTA.
A 2014 study found that while NAFTA has caused about 203,000 jobs to be displaced by NAFTA-related imports annually, imports support 188,000 new jobs, leading to a net loss of only
about 15,000 annually.
And the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service wrote in 2017 that "in reality, NAFTA did not cause the huge job losses feared by the critics... because trade with Canada & Mexico accounts for a small percentage of U.S. GDP."
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Source: NBC News Fact-Check on 2019 State of the Union address
Donald Trump on Free Trade
: Feb 5, 2019
USMCA delivers dreams shattered by catastrophe of NAFTA
A historic trade blunder was the catastrophe known as NAFTA. I have met the men & women whose dreams were shattered by NAFTA. For years, politicians promised them they would negotiate for a better deal. But no one ever tried--until now.Our new
US-Mexico-Canada Agreement--or USMCA--will replace NAFTA and deliver for American workers: bringing back our manufacturing jobs, expanding American agriculture, and ensuring that more cars are proudly stamped with four beautiful words: made in the USA.
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Source: 2019 State of the Union address to United States Congress
Doug Burgum on Free Trade
: Dec 19, 2018
North American trade deal good for farmers, ranchers
Agriculture can be a volatile industry, so we need to do our best to ensure that our ag producers have as much access as possible to world markets. The USMCA reduces tariff and non-tariff barriers for agricultural markets and increases fairness in the
Canadian wheat grading system, improving our ability to work with Canada and Mexico. This increased market access broadens the customer base for our farmers and ranchers, thereby decreasing market volatility.
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Source: Fargo-Moorhead Forum on 2020 North Dakota gubernatorial race
Doug Burgum on Technology
: Dec 19, 2018
USMCA trade deal protects intellectual property rights
Innovation flourishes in America because we protect our creators. Copyright laws and intellectual property rights ensure that our creators can commercialize and profit from their ideas as they share them with the world. We often share our innovation
with the world, however-- this sharing creates a risk that our ideas will be stolen by bad actors. The USMCA offers protections for our creators, so that they will continue to benefit when they share with other peoples and nations.
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Source: Fargo-Moorhead Forum on 2020 North Dakota gubernatorial race
Doug Burgum on Free Trade
: Oct 2, 2018
Supports USMCA trade agreement to replace NAFTA
The USMCA is a new trade pact among the United States, Mexico and Canada, intended as a stronger and modernized replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND): "We're encouraged to hear that negotiators have
reached consensus to update our trilateral trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. . We're grateful to the administration for its continued efforts to expeditiously negotiate free and fair trade agreements that benefit American producers and consumers."
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Source: White House press release in 2020 North Dakota Governor race
Asa Hutchinson on Free Trade
: Oct 2, 2018
Supports USMCA trade agreement to replace NAFTA
The USMCA is a new trade pact among the United States, Mexico and Canada, intended as a stronger and modernized replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR): "#USMCA is good news for AR & AR farmers.
The agreement will enable our agricultural producers to continue trade w/ our state's export customers in Mexico & Canada. While I am still studying many of the details, this is a victory for American workers & Pres @realDonaldTrump."
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Source: White House press release in 2018 Arkansas Governor's race
Donald Trump on Budget & Economy
: Feb 28, 2017
Restart engine after worst financial recovery in 65 years
We must honestly acknowledge the circumstances we inherited: 94 million Americans are out of the labor force. Over 43 million people are now living in poverty. More than 1 in 5 people in their prime working years are not working. We have the worst
financial recovery in 65 years.We've lost more than 1/4 of our manufacturing jobs since NAFTA was approved, and we've lost 60,000 factories since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001. Our trade deficit in goods with the world last year
was nearly $800 billion dollars.
To accomplish our goals at home and abroad, we must restart the engine of the American economy--making it easier for companies to do business in the United States, and much harder for companies to leave.
Right now, American companies are taxed at one of the highest rates anywhere in the world. My economic team is developing historic tax reform that will reduce the tax rate on our companies so they can compete and thrive anywhere and with anyone.
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Source: 2017 State of the Union address to Congress
Donald Trump on Free Trade
: Feb 24, 2017
Trade deals should be one-on-one that US can terminate
I've withdrawn America from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. So that we can protect our economic freedom. And we're going to make trade deals, but we're going to do one on one, and if they misbehave, we terminate the deal and then they'll come back and
we'll make a better deal. None of these big quagmire deals that are a disaster. Take a look at NAFTA, one of the worst deals ever made by any country. It's economy un-development, as far as our country is concerned.
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Source: Time magazine, "Trump speech at CPAC 2017"
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Nov 15, 2016
American jobs must no longer be our number one export
Economists across the political spectrum--including the pro-NAFTA Peterson Institute for International Economics, which estimated that 39 percent of the growth in U.S. wage inequality is attributable to our disastrous trade deals--agree that "free"
trade has contributed to rising U.S. income inequality. U.S. manufacturing workers who lose jobs to trade and find new employment are typically forced to take significant pay cuts. Three out of every five displaced manufacturing workers who were
rehired in 2014 took home smaller paychecks, and one out of three lost more than 20 percent of his or her income.We have got to turn this around/ American jobs must no longer be our number one export.
We must not only defeat the TPP, we must fundamentally renegotiate our failed trade agreements--including NAFTA, PNTR with China, and other existing trade pacts.
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Source: Our Revolution, by Bernie Sanders, p. 295
Jill Stein on Free Trade
: Oct 9, 2016
NAFTA destroyed jobs in US and Mexico
Donald Trump: I will be a president that will bring jobs back because NAFTA, signed by her husband, is perhaps the greatest disaster trade deal in the history of the world.
Jill Stein: The Clintons' support for NAFTA destroyed millions of jobs, including in Mexico where many farmers became economic refugees.
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Source: Stein Twitter posts on Second 2016 Presidential Debate
Jill Stein on Free Trade
: Sep 27, 2016
We want antidotes to NAFTA
Donald Trump: President Clinton approved NAFTA, which is the single worst trade deal ever approved in this country.Jill Stein: Everything that Donald Trump markets is an off-shored manufactured item.
So Donald Trump knows all about it. In fact, he advised that people close their factories and move somewhere and then impose low wages on the workers. We are calling for the antidote to NAFTA.
The Green New Deal, investing in people, 20 million living wage jobs that will transition us to 100 percent clean energy.
Hillary Clinton: Well, I think that trade is an important issue, of course.
We are five percent of the world's population--we have to trade with the other ninety five percent. And we need to have smart fair trade deals.
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Source: Fox News 3rd-party coverage: First 2016 Presidential Debate
Donald Trump on Free Trade
: Sep 26, 2016
NAFTA was worst trade deal ever; TPP is a close second
Trump: NAFTA was one of the worst things that ever happened to the manufacturing industry. You go to New England, you go to Ohio, Pennsylvania, you go anywhere you want, Secretary Clinton, and you will see devastation
where manufacture is down 30, 40, sometimes 50 percent. NAFTA is the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere, but certainly ever signed in this country. And now [Clinton wants] to approve Trans-Pacific Partnership.
You were totally in favor of it. Then you heard what I was saying, how bad it is, and you said, "I can't win that debate."
But you know that if you did win, you would approve that, and that will be almost as bad as NAFTA. Nothing will ever top NAFTA.Clinton: Well, that is just not accurate. I was against it once it was finally negotiated and the terms were laid out.
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Source: First 2016 Presidential Debate at Hofstra University
Mike Pence on Free Trade
: Jul 20, 2016
Support multilateral negotiations: no nation ruined by trade
Pence praised the benefits of NAFTA and the GATT Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations saying, "Our existing trade agreements have truly benefited Indiana and the entire United States." In 2005 Pence supported CAFTA; in one floor speech Pence
quoted Benjamin Franklin: "No nation was ever ruined by trade." In another speech, he urged his colleagues to approve CAFTA to "keep the dream of ever-expanding democracy and American ideals in our hemisphere alive."Three years later,
Pence signed onto a letter with other House GOP leaders urging then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi to allow a vote on the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. It noted that "Tens of millions of jobs across every sector of our economy are supported by trade."
Three years later in 2011, Pence took to the House floor to "heartily support" free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea, and Panama, which were approved by large bipartisan majorities in Congress that fall.
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Source: US Chamber of Commerce, "Above the Fold," by Sean Hackbarth
Mike Pence on Foreign Policy
: Jul 19, 2016
Don't have paranoid delusions about one world government
In a 1995 interview, Mike Pence echoed then-President Bill Clinton's call in denouncing the "promoters of paranoia" on the radio and singled out one radio host for promoting "one world government" conspiracies about NAFTA: "I think President Clinton is
right in that vein. We have rights in America. In tandem with those rights we have responsibility," Pence said. "Whatever type of journalist we are, whether it be in the entertainment business, or as professional journalists, we always have the
consequences of the way we present fact and information.Pence blasted one host by name, Stan Solomon, who he said promoted conspiracy theories about free trade: "Stan Solomon is a talk radio host who trades in conspiracy theories,
who trades in the idea that NAFTA, or GATT, are both part of a one world government conspiracy. While I don't believe that is true, we just don't want to fuel paranoid delusions."
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Source: BuzzFeed.com, "Conspiracy Theorists," by Andrew Kaczynski
Jill Stein on Budget & Economy
: May 9, 2016
Predatory capitalism: concentrate wealth and lose democracy
The economy has been throwing everyday people under the bus because it puts profit over people--It's rigged in favor of the wealthy. This has been going on for decades. Look back to Bill Clinton's presidency, including the repeal of Glass-Steagall Act
and the signing of NAFTA. The groundwork was laid for the Wall Street-engineered crash that destroyed 5 million people's homes, 9 million workers' jobs and $13 trillion in household wealth.There's really been a bipartisan collusion with the 1%.
In the words of Justice Louis Brandeis, "We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both."
Unfortunately, our country has been concentrating wealth and losing democracy.
And now it's reaching its logical conclusions--it's the inevitable final stages of predatory capitalism that's creating an unlivable world. Not only is our economy increasingly unfair, but now we're putting the very future of the planet at stake.
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Source: SocialistWorker.org interview of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Feb 4, 2016
Don't believe that unfettered trade creates U.S. jobs
CLINTON: I voted for a multinational trade agreement, but I opposed CAFTA because I did not believe it was in the best interests of the workers of America. I did hope that the TPP, negotiated by this administration, I was holding out hope that it would
be the kind of trade agreement that I was looking for. Once I saw the outcome, I opposed it. We are 55 of the world's population. We have to trade with the other 95%.SANDERS: I do not believe in unfettered free trade. I believe in fair trade which
works for the middle class and working families, not just large multinational corporations. I was on the picket line in opposition to NAFTA. We heard people tell us how many jobs would be created. I didn't believe that for a second because I understood
what the function of NAFTA, CAFTA, PNTR with China, and the TPP is, it's to say to American workers, hey, you are now competing against people in Vietnam who make 56 cents an hour minimum wage. This is an area where the secretary and I have disagreements
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Source: MSNBC Democratic primary debate in New Hampshire
Jill Stein on Free Trade
: Jan 12, 2016
Oppose bipartisan job-killing corporate trade agreements
Democratic priorities [joined Republicans] as the party went to bat for trillions in Wall Street bailouts, tax cuts for the rich, job-killing corporate trade agreements, and austerity budgets.The President is also leading the bipartisan effort to
pass the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), a devastating secretive trade deal known as "NAFTA on steroids" because it will send jobs overseas, undermine wages at home, and roll back protections for workers, public health and the environment.
The President has already won from Congress "fast track authority", with which he will try to ram the TPP through Congress with little debate and no amendments allowed.
But word has gotten out about this massive betrayal of democracy and passage of the TPP has been repeatedly delayed for the past year. We must continue to mobilize to defeat the TPP.
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Source: Green Party response to 2016 State of the Union speech
Jill Stein on Immigration
: Jan 12, 2016
We're deporting more immigrants than ever, 2.5M under Obama
The immigration crisis also needs an immediate remedy. In addition to deporting a record 2.5 million immigrants, more than any past president, Obama's recent night raids and deportations of Central American families and children are inhumane and morally
reprehensible. These families came here as refugees from violence, poverty and chaos created by US policies like NAFTA, the war on drugs, and political and military interventions. It's no coincidence that the three most violent countries in
Central America--El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala--are failed states resulting from US interventions that overthrew democratically elected progressive governments.OnTheIssues Note: See related FactCheck; this
2.5M figure only includes "removals," not "returns". Counting "returns" as well, Obama deported fewer total immigrants than George Bush Jr or Ronald Reagan, but more than Bill Clinton.
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Source: Green Party response to 2016 State of the Union speech
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Oct 25, 2015
I strongly opposed NAFTA and DOMA from their inception
I have strongly criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Defense of Marriage Act since a certain presidential couple enacted them back in the 90's. Six months ago, when
I began my campaign and announced we were going to take on these types of legislation, as well as the political and economic establishment of this country, very few people knew who I was. Well, in the last six months, things have changed.
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Source: ABC News on 2015 presidential Democratic hopefuls in Iowa
Donald Trump on Free Trade
: Oct 18, 2015
Restrict free trade to keep jobs in US
Q: You would end NAFTA, kill the Pacific Trade Agreement, impose tariffs on some products like 35% on Ford cars made in Mexico. TRUMP: I am all for free trade, but it's got to be fair. When Ford moves their massive plants to Mexico, we get nothing.
I want them to stay in Michigan.
Q: But the American Enterprise Institute says, your Trump Collection clothing line, some of it is made in Mexico and China.
TRUMP: That's true. I want it to be made here.
Q: The point is you're doing just what
Ford is--you're taking advantage of a global trading market.
TRUMP: I never dispute that. I just ordered 4,000 television sets from South Korea. I don't want to order them from South Korea. I don't think anybody makes television sets in the
United States anymore. I talk about it all the time. We don't make anything anymore. Now you look at Boeing. Boeing's going over to China. They're going to build a massive plant because China's demanding it in order to order airplanes from Boeing.
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Source: Fox News Sunday 2015 Coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Oct 11, 2015
Does not support ANY free trade agreements
Q: What do you think about the new TPP trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership?SANDERS: I voted against NAFTA, CAFTA, PNTR with China. I think they have been a disaster for the American worker. A lot of corporations that shut down here move abroad.
Working people understand that after NAFTA, CAFTA, PNTR with China we have lost millions of decent paying jobs. Since 2001, 60,000 factories in America have been shut down. We're in a race to the bottom, where our wages are going down.
Is all of that attributable to trade? No. Is a lot of it? Yes. TPP was written by corporate America and the pharmaceutical industry and Wall Street. That's what this trade agreement is about. I do not want American workers to competing against people in
Vietnam who make 56 cents an hour for a minimum wage.
Q: So basically, there's never been a single trade agreement this country's negotiated that you've been comfortable with?
SANDERS: That's correct.
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Source: Meet the Press 2015 interview moderated by Chuck Todd
Jill Stein on Free Trade
: Jul 6, 2015
TPP is like NAFTA on steroids
OnTheIssues: What's your opinion on TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership? Is it the same as your negative opinion of NAFTA and CAFTA?
Stein: Well, TPP is worse; it's like NAFTA on steroids--very little about trade and more about putting corporate profits first and creating a corporate state.
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Source: Phone interview on 2016 presidential race by OnTheIssues.org
Bernie Sanders on Immigration
: Jun 29, 2015
Since NAFTA, Mexican undocumented immigration up 185%
Since the implementation of NAFTA, the number of Mexicans living below the poverty line has increased by over 14 million people.
Almost 2 million small famers have been displaced. And in the twenty years since NAFTA growth in per capita GDP has been only half of that experienced by other Latin American nations.
Not surprisingly we have seen a 185 percent increase in the number of undocumented immigrants from Mexico from 1992 to 2011.
We as a nation have got to realize the importance of dealing not just with the issue of immigration but with the very real refugee crisis we face.
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Source: The Essential Bernie Sanders, by Jonathan Tasini, p. 98
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Jun 14, 2015
Base trade policy on working families, not multinationals
Q: The president says that expanding trade helps service industries & opens new markets. You talk about workers that would lose their job from trade. They say this will open up markets that will increase jobs.SANDERS: I have been hearing that argument
for the last 25 years. I heard it about NAFTA. I heard it about CAFTA. I heard it about permanent normal trade relations with China. Here is the fact. Since 2001, we have lost almost 60,000 factories and millions of good-paying jobs. I'm not saying
trade is the only reason, but it is a significant reason why Americans are working longer hours for low wages and why we are seeing our jobs go to China and other low-wage countries. And, finally, what you're seeing in Congress are Democrats and some
Republicans beginning to stand up and say, maybe we should have a trade policy which represents the working families of this country, that rebuilds our manufacturing base, not than just representing the CEOs of large multinational corporations.
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Source: CBS Face the Nation 2015 coverage:2016 presidential hopefuls
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Apr 19, 2015
Wrong, wrong, wrong that trade deals create jobs here
Q: As secretary of state, Clinton said she favored a trade deal with our 11 Pacific partners & fast track authority to make that happen. Is that an issue for you?SANDERS: In the House and Senate, I voted against all of these terrible trade agreements,
NAFTA, CAFTA, permanent normal trades relations with China. Republicans and Democrats, they say, "oh, we'll create all these jobs by having a trade agreement with China." Well, the answer is, they were wrong, wrong, wrong. Over the years, we have lost
millions of decent paying jobs. These trade agreements have forced wages down in America so the average worker in America today is working longer hours for lower wages.
Q: So, is that a litmus test for you, to see whether or not Clinton is going to
come out against the TPP?
SANDERS: I hope very much the secretary comes out against it. I think we do not need to send more jobs to low wage countries. I think corporate America has to start investing in this country and create decent paying jobs here.
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Source: Fox News Sunday 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Mar 21, 2015
End disastrous NAFTA, CAFTA, and PNTR with China
Since 2001 we have lost more than 60,000 factories in this country, and more than 4.9 million decent-paying manufacturing jobs. We must end our disastrous trade policies (NAFTA, CAFTA, PNTR with China, etc.) which enable corporate America to shut
down plants in this country and move to China and other low-wage countries. We need to end the race to the bottom and develop trade policies which demand that American corporations create jobs here, and not abroad.
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Source: 2016 presidential campaign website, BernieSanders.com
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Jan 15, 2015
Stop TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Trade Policies that Benefit American Workers:
Since 2001 we have lost more than 60,000 factories in this country, and more than 4.9 million decent-paying manufacturing jobs.
We must end our disastrous trade policies (NAFTA, CAFTA, PNTR with China, etc.) which enable corporate America to shut down plants in this country and move to China and other low-wage countries.
We need to end the race to the bottom and develop trade policies which demand that American corporations create jobs here, and not abroad.
[We should also] sign the petition to stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership--another trade deal disaster.
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Source: 12 Steps Forward, by Sen. Bernie Sanders
Marco Rubio on Foreign Policy
: Nov 30, 2012
Build relations with Mexico for trade & oil, not just border
Mexico's longstanding economic, social and cultural ties with the US have always made our relations with Mexico important. However, since NAFTA, Mexico has grown to become the US' 3rd-largest commercial partner. Clearly, the need for a positive,
productive US-Mexico relationship is driven by far more than the immigration and transnational crime issues.A strong, prosperous Mexico is good for the US. It represents a large, growing market for a wide variety of US exports. It offers a convenient,
economically competitive alternative to China and other Asian countries. And a strong Mexico that produces good, legitimate jobs for its growing population will undermine the appeal of criminal organizations and the enticement of undocumented employment
in the US.
[We should also] implement the trans-boundary hydrocarbons agreement signed by the US and Mexico in February, which allows international oil companies to join Mexico in joint exploration and development in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Source: McClatchy-Tribune editorial, "US-Mexico," by Marco Rubio
Jill Stein on Free Trade
: Oct 16, 2012
International trade boards compromise American sovereignty
Q: What plans do you have to reverse outsourcing of American jobs overseas?STEIN: To stop the outsourcing of our jobs, it's very clear we need to stop expanding the free trade agreements that send our jobs overseas and which also undermine wages
here at home by effectively threatening workers that if they don't drop their wages and their benefits, that their jobs are gone. We saw the first free trade agreement, NAFTA, enacted under Bill Clinton, a Democrat. We saw it carried out under
George Bush, but then we saw Barack Obama expand three free trade agreements and is now negotiating a secret free trade agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, that will continue to offshore jobs, undermine wages, and, as well, this time compromise
American sovereignty with an international corporate board that can rule on our laws and regulations and say whether or not they pass muster. This is an absolute outrage against American sovereignty, democracy and our economy.
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Source: Democracy Now! Expanded Second Obama-Romney 2012 debate
Jill Stein on Immigration
: Oct 16, 2012
Undocumented immigration massively spiked after NAFTA
GOODE: These agreements that have cost so many American jobs--they need to be renegotiated, with the emphasis on bringing jobs to this country instead of sending them overseas. [And on immigration], we need to preserve U.S. college admissions for U.S.
citizens first.STEIN: First, let's be clear that our jobs took a nosedive because Wall Street crashed the economy, because of Wall Street waste, fraud and abuse. And our jobs went overseas due to NAFTA and other free trade agreements, which Barack
Obama has expanded. So, in fact, you know, it's not immigrants that have caused problems in our economy; it's, rather, this predatory economic policies fostered by an economic and political elite. In fact, immigrants did not come to this country lured
by jobs. The spike in undocumented immigrants occurred, massively spiked, after NAFTA basically put millions of small farmers out of business, and people were forced to migrate here as economic refugees in order to feed their families.
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Source: Democracy Now! Expanded Second Obama-Romney 2012 debate
Jill Stein on Free Trade
: Dec 21, 2011
NAFTA caused the wave of undocumented immigrants
Q: Should illegal immigrants be allowed to stay in the US, or get deported? A: I wouldn't use the term "illegal immigration" because human beings are not illegal.
The wave of undocumented immigrants resulted from the passage of NAFTA, which was as harmful to economies south of our border as it is to our own economy.
People have come here who have lost their jobs, who can no longer support their families, particularly as we have destroyed the economy in
South America by dumping agricultural products, as developed by NAFTA. That's where the real solution lies--renegotiating these treaties which have been harmful to American workers as much as they've been harmful to workers in other countries.
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Source: 2011 AmericansElect interview questionnaire with Jill Stein
Mike Huckabee on Free Trade
: Jan 13, 2008
Supports NAFTA & CAFTA, if partners "hafta" abide by rules
Q: If you were president, you wouldn't go forward with another version of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, or any of these other free-trade agreements that are in the works right now?A: No,
I think the free-trade agreements are wonderful to have, and I supported NAFTA and CAFTA. But I always say, then you "hafta" make sure that these free trade agreements are being abided by both parties, and that's not what's happened.
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Source: FOX News Sunday tag
Joe Biden on Free Trade
: Nov 22, 2007
Opposes fast-track to protect labor rights
Defend Workers in Trade Negotiations: Joe Biden believes that US trade negotiations must protect American workers by insisting on basic labor and environmental standards. That's why he opposed CAFTA and fast track authority for President Bush.
He will continue to fight for better labor and environmental standards in trade agreements and will oppose new trade agreements that don't meet high standards.
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Source: 2008 Senate campaign website, www.joebiden.com, "Issues"
Mike Huckabee on Free Trade
: Sep 17, 2007
No NAFTA Superhighway from Canada to Mexico
Q: As president, do you support the NAFTA "Superhighway" presently under construction from Mexico to Canada, portions of which shall be under foreign control?
- HUCKABEE: No.
- TANCREDO: No.
- COX: No.
- BROWNBACK: No.
- PAUL: No.
- HUNTER: No.
- KEYES: No.
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Source: [Xref Hunter] 2007 GOP Values Voter Presidential Debate
Joe Biden on Free Trade
: Aug 7, 2007
President's job is to create jobs, not to export jobs
Q: Would you scrap NAFTA or fix it?A: A president's job is to create jobs, not to export jobs, and the idea that we are not willing to take the prime minister of Canada and the president of
Mexico to the mat to make this agreement work is just a lack of presidential leadership. I would lead, I would do that, I would change it.
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Source: 2007 AFL-CIO Democratic primary forum
Tim Walz on Free Trade
: Nov 7, 2006
Opposes NAFTA and CAFTA, but stay in WTO
Q: Do you support NAFTA and CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement? A: No.
Q: Do you support continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
A: Yes.
Q: Should a nation's human rights record affect its normal
trade relations (most favored nation) status with the United States?
A: Yes.
Q: Should trade agreements include provisions to address environmental concerns and to protect workers' rights?
A: Yes.
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Source: 2006 Congressional National Political Awareness Test
Howie Hawkins on Free Trade
: Aug 1, 2006
Repeal NAFTA & CAFTA
Q: What does Hawkins think of free tarde?A: Promotes repeal of NAFTA, CAFTA.
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Source: Email interview on 2006 Senate race with OnTheIssues.org
Donald Trump on Free Trade
: Dec 2, 1999
World views US trade officials as ‘saps’
Trump said that US trade officials are viewed as “saps” around the world and have allowed the country to be ripped off in trade agreements. He called NAFTA a disaster and said leaders of other countries “can’t believe how easy it is to deal with the US.”
He continued, “We are known as a bunch of saps. We need our best people to negotiate against the Japanese and many other countries.” As president, he would get the nation’s top business leaders - not diplomats - to negotiate for the country.
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Source: Pat Eaton-Robb, Associated Press, on 2000 presidential race
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Jun 17, 1997
Agreed with Ross Perot's critique of trade policy
Although I agree with his critique of American trade policy and his opposition to NAFTA, I am no great fan of Ross Perot. There's no way he would be a major political leader if he weren't a billionaire.
But I think that he is getting a bum rap from the media when they refer to his half-hour speeches as "infomericals" and make fun of his use of charts.
Instead of putting 30-second attack ads on the air, he is trying to seriously discuss some of the most important issues facing the country.
You may not agree with his analysis or his conclusions, but at least he's treating the American people with some respect. What's wrong with that?
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Source: Outsider in the House, by Bernie Sanders, p.168
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Jun 17, 1997
NAFTA, GATT, and MFN for China must be repealed
What about the hemorrhage of jobs abroad? Can we do anything about the disastrous effects of the global economy on American workers? According to the experts, no. But the experts echo the message their employers want us to hear.
We need to address the issue of trade forthrightly and understand that our current trade policy is an unmitigated disaster. Our current record-breaking merchandise trade deficit of $112 billion is costing us over 2 million decent paying jobs.
NAFTA, GATT, and Most Favored Nation status with China must be repealed, and a new trade policy developed.
Let's look at some of the components of a sensible trade policy. First, we must recognize that trade is not an end in itself.
The function of American trade policy must be to improve the standard of living of the American people. America's trade policy must be radically changed, by committing ourselves to a "fair" rather than "free" trade policy.
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Source: Outsider in the House, by Bernie Sanders, p.237
Bernie Sanders on Free Trade
: Jun 17, 1997
NAFTA was a sellout to corporate America
At the very same time as health care was on the congressional agenda. Clinton pushed another issue to the forefront. And on the major initiative, Clinton was just plain wrong--very wrong. His support for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
was a sellout to corporate America. Pure and simple, it was a disaster for the working people of this country.The US currently has a trade deficit of $114 billion. Economists tell us that $1 billion of investment equates to about
18,000 (often decent-paying) jobs. Connect the dots. Our current trade deficit is causing the loss of over 2 million jobs. Over the last 20 years, while the US has run up over a trillion dollars in trade deficits, millions of American workers have
been thrown into the streets.
The function of trade agreements like NAFTA is to make it easier for American companies to move abroad, and to force our workers to compete against desperate people in the Third World.
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Source: Outsider in the House, by Bernie Sanders, p.179-80
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