State of New Jersey secondary Archives: on Free Trade
Bob Hugin:
In the end, tariffs will get a better deal with China
Q: Support President Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?Robert Hugin (R): Yes. "In the end, we're going to get a better deal with China."
Robert Menendez (D):
No. They drive allies "into the arms of our adversaries" instead of addressing China's economic policies.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Jersey Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Cory Booker:
African trade makes stable countries & good for our security
Expanding the economic pie means creating strong ties with these developing nations. Rather than making these countries dependent on long-term foreign aid, we should focus on increasing trade with them. For example, in countries that don't have legacy
landline telephones, as we do in America, there are opportunities to invest in mobile data technology--creating jobs here and there. This "trade, not aid" approach means new markets for
American goods, self-sufficient countries that benefit from investment and a world economy that's expanding.Stronger, more stable African countries are also good for our security. Some parts of Africa, like Mali and Somalia, have
had significant problems with extremist groups. Extremists have a much harder time gaining a foothold and recruiting when a countries people are making money, putting food on the table, and being supported by an effective government.
Source: 2013-2014 New Jersey Senate campaign web CoryBooker.com
Nov 3, 2013
Cory Booker:
China cheats via currency manipulation & IP theft
As China expands its economy, grows its military, and competes on the world stage, it is essential for them to play by the rules. Thankfully, China needs us--and there are countless areas where our countries cooperate to advance shared priorities.
American workers can compete and win on a level playing field, which is why China's cheating--through artificially depressing its currency and other unfair trade practices--is so damaging. While currency appreciation has occurred, keeping it
artificially low hurts our economic competitiveness and undermines the trust that is essential to a strong relationship. That doesn't mean we should start a trade war--that would hurt our economy just as much as it would hurt China's. Instead, our goal
should be a level playing field that treats everyone fairly, and that includes cracking down on unfair practices, such as unreasonable market barriers and Intellectual Property theft, that often break China's commitments to us and the rest of the world.
Source: 2013-2014 New Jersey Senate campaign web CoryBooker.com
Nov 3, 2013
Jeff Bell:
Act on bilateral agreements with Colombia and South Korea
Q: Is financial globalization beginning a process of reversal?A: Reagan believed a strong and stable dollar is the keystone of an integrated world economy. The dollar's universal acceptance since the 1940s as the world's final money has in fact been
the single biggest force for globalization. This legacy is now under pervasive assault. The generation-long capitalist boom is over. Global trade talks have little if any traction, while bilateral agreements negotiated with such allies as Colombia and
South Korea languish in Congress, unacted on year after year. It would be hard to find a major trading partner that hasn't expressed public dissatisfaction with US monetary policy, particularly in regard to our management of the dollar. If he were
alive and politically active today, where would Reagan be? My own guess is that Ronald Reagan, never one to demonize a policy debate, would identify the problem as systemic and would be barnstorming for yet another big change in the way the world works.
Source: AmericanPrinciplesProject.org on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Aug 15, 2011
Rik Mehta:
For trade, but ensure other nations don't take advantage
Rik supports President Trump's United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) because it creates a fair playing field for American workers and will benefit New Jersey farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses.
We live in a global economy and free trade is a must, but it also must be fair trade to ensure that other nations don't take advantage of us like they have for years.
Source: 2020 New Jersey Senate campaign website RikForNJ.com
Mar 18, 2020
Robert Menendez:
Tariffs on China drive allies into arms of our adversaries
Q: Support President Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?Robert Hugin (R): Yes. "In the end, we're going to get a better deal with China."
Robert Menendez (D):
No. They drive allies "into the arms of our adversaries" instead of addressing China's economic policies.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Jersey Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Tammy Murphy:
Part of NJ trade delegation to East Asia & Taiwan
Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation wrapped up their nine-day Choose New Jersey Governor-led economic mission to East Asia today in Taiwan. The trip reaffirmed the synergistic relationship between
New Jersey and Taiwan, partnering with key industry leaders to provide new opportunities for growth across economic, educational, and technological sectors in both regions.
Source: New Jersey Governor's office press release 2023: "East Asia"
Oct 21, 2023
Curtis Bashaw:
Real free trade takes commitments from all sides
Real free trade takes commitments from all sides. We can't just sit back and shrug if other countries keep up unfair barriers and distortions that disadvantage U.S. exports. We need to use our leverage and market power to keep overseas markets open to
American produce, including striking smart new trade deals, avoiding trade spats with our friends and allies that can turn farmers into innocent casualties, and keeping investing in support for marketing and promotion.
Source: Lancaster Farming on 2024 New Jersey Senate race
Oct 3, 2024
Cory Booker:
Unequivocally condemn the Trump tariffs, there's no strategy
Listen, I just want to, for myself, tell you a full-throated, unequivocal condemnation of the Trump tariffs. There's no wisdom in this, the chaotic way he's doing it, the challenges he's putting on American families, in terms of costs, rising costs
and jobs. This has no strategy. It has no sense. He's being attacked by people on the left and the right, from the markets devastating people's retirement security to the global chaos right now and unpredictability, there's no equivocation here.
Source: Meet the Press on 2026 New Jersey Senate race
Apr 13, 2025
Cory Booker:
Trump tariffs have no strategy, it has no sense
[On Trump tariffs]: "I just want to tell you a full-throated, unequivocal condemnation of the Trump tariffs," Booker said. "There's no wisdom in this, the chaotic way he's doing it, the challenges he's putting on American families, in terms of costs,
rising costs and jobs. This has no strategy. It has no sense. He's being attacked by people on the left and the right … from the markets devastating people's retirement security, to the global chaos right now and unpredictability," he continued.
Source: The Hill, "Chaotic," on 2026 New Jersey Senate race
Apr 13, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 06, 2026