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Jon Huntsman on Free Trade

Republican UT Governor


China will say our QE1 and QE2 were currency manipulation

Q: Gov. Romney says, "I will label China as it is, a currency manipulator, and I will go after them for stealing our intellectual property, and they will recognize that if they cheat, there is a price to pay." You say that this would risk a trade war. But if China is indeed keeping its currency low, that means that everything they sell in this country is artificially cheap & everything that our companies try to sell in China is artificially expensive. What do you say when people ask, aren't we already in a trade war with China?

HUNTSMAN: I don't subscribe to the Mitt Romney school of international trade. I don't want to find ourselves in a trade war. With respect to China, if you start slapping penalties on them based on countervailing duties, you're going to get the same thing in return because what they're going to say, because of quantitative easing part one and part two, you're doing a similar thing to your currency. And then you're going to find yourself in a trade war very, very quickly.

Source: 2011 GOP debate at Dartmouth College, NH , Oct 11, 2011

Establish a Free Trade Area of the Americas

Huntsman served as Deputy United States Trade Representative for Pres. George W. Bush. "Promoting open markets promotes democratic values in those markets and enhances opportunities for American farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, and families," said Huntsman in a press release at the time. "With the US party to only two of the 130 free trade agreements worldwide, it is crucial to get off the sidelines by launching a new WTO trade round and establishing a Free Trade Area of the Americas. Trade Promotion Authority, the President's top trade goal, is important for both."

In 2002, Huntsman called NAFTA "a success beyond anyone's expectations. It has allowed the average family to save in terms of what they pay for goods, products that would otherwise carry a higher cost." Indeed, Huntsman seemed to demonstrate an understanding that free markets lead to economic growth. He said in May of 2011 that imposing tariffs on Chinese imports "would throw us into a depression."

Source: Club for Growth 2012 Presidential White Paper #8: Huntsman , Jun 22, 2011

Open up global markets for Utah businesses

As Governor, I will bring to bear my international experience in business and trade relations to open up global markets for Utah businesses. Strengthening Utah’s presence in the international trading community will be focused on the following key areas:
Source: Gubernatorial website, www.utah.gov/governor/ , Nov 11, 2006

Other candidates on Free Trade: Jon Huntsman on other issues:
Incumbents:
Pres.Barack Obama
V.P.Joe Biden
GOP Candidates:
Gov.Mitt Romney(MA)
Rep.Paul Ryan(WI)
Third Party Candidates:
Mayor Rocky Anderson(J)
Roseanne Barr(PF)
Rep.Virgil Goode(C)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L)
Jill Stein(G)
Andre Barnett(Ref.)

GOP Withdrawals:
Rep.Michele Bachmann(MN)
Herman Cain(GA)
Rep.Newt Gingrich(GA)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Rep.Ron Paul(TX)
Gov.Tim Pawlenty(MN)
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Page last updated: Mar 24, 2013