State of Pennsylvania secondary Archives: on Free Trade
Bob Casey:
Go after "trade cheaters" to protect PA jobs
Q: Support President Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?Lou Barletta (R): Yes. Supports Trump's using tariffs as leverage to get better trade deals. Says if retaliatory tariffs hurt agriculture, Trump will help them.
Bob Casey (D): Yes. We must go after "trade cheaters" to protect PA jobs.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Pennsylvania Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Brendan Boyle:
Americans compete on an unfair playing field
When elected to Congress, I will fight to:- End Misguided Incentives that Cost American Jobs--We have the best workers in the world, but Americans compete on an unfair playing field that has resulted in jobs being shipped to China, India,
and other countries around the world. We must end tax incentives that reward companies for shipping jobs overseas.
- Raise the Minimum Wage- Hard work should be rewarded.
Today an American can work full-time at a minimum wage job and still be under the poverty line. We can do better. If you work hard and play by the rules you should be able to have a wage you can live on.
- Incentivize Innovation--
A thriving 21st century economy requires great ideas and innovation. We need incentives to make it easier for entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas and spur job growth.
Source: 2014 Pennsylvania House campaign website, VoteBoyle.com
Oct 10, 2014
Carla Sands:
While ambassador, US exports to Denmark rose over 20%
In 2016, Carla met, got to know, and in turn worked tirelessly to elect President Donald J. Trump and his America First agenda. In 2017, President Trump called on Carla to represent the United States as the Ambassador to Denmark.
During her tenure, Denmark increased its defense spending, while U.S. exports to the Kingdom of Denmark rose over 20%, resulting in the creation of additional jobs right here at home.
Source: 2021 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website CarlaSands.com
Oct 20, 2021
David McCormick:
With Bush: embrace trade; with Trump: America First
McCormick has highlighted the benefits of free trade stating in 2008 that "the key to remaining competitive in today's changing world is embracing openness to trade and to investment and to people". As a member of the Bush administration,
McCormick pushed China to raise the value of its currency. In more recent times, he has supported
President Trump's America First policy, indicating a shift. In the past, he has seemed to argue that the benefits of free trade outweighed the downside of displacing American workers and suggested
retraining those who whose jobs have become obsolete. He also opposed U.S. exports which gave advantages to China's military. In the past, McCormick supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Source: Wikipedia on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
May 22, 2022
David McCormick:
When China succeeds, the United States succeeds
In 2007, McCormick spoke as a member of the Bush administration in Beijing, where he said that "When China succeeds, the United States succeeds" and that the US owes "much of the strength and vitality of our economic relationship today to the remarkable
success of China's economic development over the last three decades..." As a member of the Bush administration, McCormick pushed China to raise the value of its currency. In the past, McCormick supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Source: Wikipedia on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
May 22, 2022
Ken Krawchuk:
Support free trade
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Support & expand free trade"?
A: Support. It's what made America great.
Source: OnTheIssues interview: 2018 Pennsylvania Governor candidate
May 18, 2018
Jim Christiana:
Negative consequences of retaliatory tariffs on agriculture
The president and his administration need "a tremendous amount of flexibility" to enact tariffs and work with targeted countries like China, Christiana said. But "that flexibility is not unlimited, and it needs to be put in check."
Negative consequences of retaliatory tariffs on the agriculture industry should be cause for concern, he said, and Trump needs to figure out a quick resolution in the coming days or weeks.
Source: Lancaster Online on 2018 Pennsylvania Senate race
Apr 7, 2018
Joe Sestak:
Supports Ex-Im Bank & supports trade agreements in principle
Sestak contrasted his ideas against opponent Pat Toomey's comments about the Export-Import Bank, a federal agency that provides financing and insurance to businesses that export their products. In a recent letter to fellow senators, Toomey argued that
the bank should not be reauthorized because it is "one of the most egregious forms of corporate welfare in our government."Sestak isn't taking a position yet on a pending trade agreement that the Obama administration argues will create job
opportunities by boosting exports. Some Democrats have expressed skepticism that the deal with Japan and other Pacific countries will be beneficial to Pennsylvania.
Sestak said he wants to see the United States, not
China, helping set trade guidelines in those countries--a position that Toomey also has outlined. "In principle, I'd like to be for it, because I want to set the rules of the road for trade," Sestaksaid. "Trade is part of our national security."
Source: Mcall.com coverage of 2016 Pennsylvania Senate race
May 7, 2015
Joe Sestak:
Supports TPP in principle, but verify openly before we trust
Sestak isn't taking a position yet on a pending trade agreement [the Trans-Pacific Partnership] that the Obama administration argues will create job opportunities by boosting exports. Sestak was critical of the Obama administration's not being more
forthcoming about the trade negotiations, saying those details should be available before the president seeks a faster approval process for completing the trade deal."But don't you trust Obama?" asked one citizen. "I'm a guy that verifies before he
trusts," Sestak replied.
In an interview later, Sestak said some U.S. workers have been harmed by past trade deals, particularly those without a college degree. Better job-retraining programs should be put in place to help
workers who might be hurt by the ripple effects of a trade agreement, along with tough requirements on labor practices and environmental standards for countries that sign the eventual deal.
Source: Mcall.com coverage of 2016 Pennsylvania Senate race
May 7, 2015
John Fetterman:
Fight to reverse bad trade policies like NAFTA
It's time we leveled the playing field to narrow the huge disparity of wealth in today's economy. We need a healthy, growing middle class and policies that promote that. As Senator, I will fight to reverse bad trade policies like NAFTA that have sent
American jobs overseas, driven down wages and decimated communities like Braddock across Pennsylvania. We need to return to valuing the American worker and blue collar jobs as much as we value white collar, financial jobs.
Source: 2016 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website JohnFetterman.com
Apr 1, 2016
Lou Barletta:
Use tariffs as leverage to get better trade deals
Q: Support President Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?Lou Barletta (R): Yes. Supports Trump's using tariffs as leverage to get better trade deals. Says if retaliatory tariffs hurt agriculture, Trump will help them.
Bob Casey (D): Yes. We must go after "trade cheaters" to protect PA jobs.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Pennsylvania Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Mehmet Oz:
We need to focus on creating jobs here in America
Dr. Oz believes the United States has failed to respond to the global Chinese threat. Every year we see more and more companies ship American jobs overseas, while failing to stand up to China as they steal our intellectual property and manipulate
their currency. Dr. Oz believes we need to focus on creating jobs here in America and rebuilding our supply chain so we can better respond to crises like COVID without relying on the Chinese for things like PPE or other critical infrastructure.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website DoctorOz.com
Dec 8, 2021
Pat Toomey:
Ex-Im Bank is an egregious forms of corporate welfare
[Democratic opponent Joe] Sestak contrasted his ideas against Toomey's comments about the Export-Import Bank, a federal agency that provides financing and insurance to businesses that export their products. In a recent letter to fellow senators,
Toomey argued that the bank should not be reauthorized because it is "one of the most egregious forms of corporate welfare in our government."
Sestak said he wants to see the United States, not China, helping set trade guidelines in those countries--a position that Toomey also has outlined. But Sestak is reserving judgment on whether the agreement will be
helpful or harmful until the full details are released. "In principle, I'd like to be for it, because I want to set the rules of the road for trade," he said. "Trade is part of our national security."
Source: Mcall.com coverage of 2016 Pennsylvania Senate race
May 7, 2015
Scott Wagner:
How can any self-made man not back the free market?
"You know what's amazing is that a guy [George Soros] who came from Hungary, a Hungarian Jew, and made a fortune, and think where he came from, and he has an opinion of America that he does," Wagner said. "It's just amazing to me." Wagner was not
trying to disparage Soros' religion, his campaign manager told The Morning Call. Wagner was trying to explain how he doesn't understand Soros' liberal politics, by questioning how Soros does not back free-market interests as a self-made man.
Source: The Morning Call on 2018 Pennsylvania Governor race
Aug 25, 2017
Tom Wolf:
Create "Made in Pennsylvania" cash-back jobs program
We must bring manufacturing jobs back to our state. We propose the creation of a "Made in Pennsylvania" cash-back jobs program.For manufacturing companies that increase their annual taxable payroll by at least one million dollars to create solid,
middle-class jobs: they will receive cash payments of up to five percent of new taxable income the following year.
And let's go one step further: In our Grant and Loan Programs we should give priority to Pennsylvania companies. We should and we will.
Source: State of the State address to 2015 Pennsylvania Legislature
Mar 3, 2015
Val Arkoosh:
For robust Buy America policies, incentivize retaining jobs
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how important it is to support American manufacturing that can make the things we need in our daily lives, or during a national emergency, right here at home.
That's why she supports boosting American manufacturing and workers through robust Buy America policies and incentives for companies to keep jobs here in Pennsylvania and the U.S., instead of sending them overseas.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website ValArkoosh.com
Dec 19, 2021
David McCormick:
Extend the Trump administration's model of fair trade
Retooling the China relationship should consist of five steps.- Extend the Trump administration's model of fair trade.
- Reduce our dependence on China and secure our supply chains.
- Stop U.S. companies from funding China's military
modernization, technological ambitions, and human rights abuses.
- Stand up to the CCP by protecting American innovation and holding China accountable for its thievery and abuses.
- Finally, look to our friends and allies to out-innovate China.
Source: Press release on 2024 Pennsylvania Senate race, "China"
Mar 15, 2023
Josh Shapiro:
Describes Trump's tariffs as a "disastrous, reckless policy"
A few hours before President Donald Trump's announcements of another round on tariffs, Gov. Josh Shapiro described it as a "disastrous, reckless policy." "I'm mindful that we are here today in Bethlehem, on the same day that the federal
government is about to impose massive tariffs across the board, and I'm worried about the impacts on Pennsylvania businesses once those tariffs hit and other countries then hit us back with retaliatory tariffs," Shapiro said.
Source: Penn. Capital-Star on 2024 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race
Apr 2, 2025
Stacy Garrity:
Trump's tariffs are common sense measures good for America
[On Trump's tariffs]: "He's restoring fair trade balance with the United States and our trading partners by putting tariffs on countries that place tariffs on American goods,"
Garrity said. She described his tariff policy, along with other parts of his agenda as "common sense measures" that are good for the American people and a "death sentence for the evil forces at play within our own country and abroad."
Source: Capital-Star on 2026 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race
Apr 7, 2025
Page last updated: Mar 13, 2026