Josh Hawley on Free Trade

Calls for abolishing the World Trade Organization

Supports Trump's tariffs on China, but what about farmers?

Josh Hawley (R): Supports approach but worried about farmers, so wants to see the deal.

Claire McCaskill (D): Opposes.

China systematically abuses the global trade system

In a statement, Hawley sounded notes similar to messages he posted on Twitter in early March. He noted that most of the US's trade partners "follow the same rules we do," but "one in particular doesn't: China."

"China systematically abuses the global trade system and we should respond firmly to defend American workers," Hawley continued. "One of my top concerns is to ensure there is no retaliation against our agricultural community--including Missouri farmers--and that we are not punishing trade partners who do follow the rules in the process."

Implement USMCA for improved North American trade.

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