State of Alabama Archives: on Free Trade


Arnold Mooney: Use every tool in the toolbox to beat China down

The two-term representative had fewer details on developing what he considered fair trade with other countries, apart from saying the nation was "going to have to use every tool in the toolbox to beat China down."

The Alabama automobile industry relies on parts manufactured in Mexico, and Mooney was somewhat vague on how he would address that in any trade deal, apart from "using every tool in our toolbox to have balanced and equal opportunities with all our partners."

Mooney said he would support Trump's efforts to build a border wall with Mexico but chiefly stressed criticism of China's trade policy. He framed it as a question of whether there would be "another American century or whether we consign the world to 100 years of Chinese darkness."

Source: Montgomery Advertiser on 2020 Alabama Senate race May 6, 2019

Doug Jones: Free trade is good for Alabama businesses

International trade supports more than 550,000 jobs in Alabama, more than one in five in the state, with jobs related to exports paying 18 percent higher wages, according to the Business Council of Alabama. Alabama's workers and economy benefit from mutually advantageous trade relationships with other nations. Agreements should ensure there are no barriers to exporting American goods which could increase difficulty for Alabama manufacturers who want to sell their products overseas.
Source: Birmingham News on 2017 Alabama Senate race Sep 21, 2017

Doug Jones: Tariffs threaten the state's workers and farmers

Jones has focused on economic issues of concern to some traditional Republican voters, cautioning about how tariffs are threatening the state's aerospace industry, automobile workers and farmers. "The record I want to emphasize to folks is that I am there for them," Jones said in an interview last month. "I am not there for a president. I am not there for any of the Democrats. I am there for the people of this state."
Source: Montgomery Advertiser on 2020 Alabama Senate race Oct 10, 2019

Jessica Taylor: For free trade, but China has been a bad actor

Taylor also supports Trump's trade policies, saying she is "for free trade" but feels Chinese trade policy has required an aggressive response. "I prefer free markets to be in place, but China has been a bad actor for a long time, stealing our intellectual property and a host of other aggressions," she said. "I do support what our president is doing right now."
Source: Montgomery Advertiser on 2022 Alabama Senate race Jan 21, 2020

Kay Ivey: Proud to invite the world to do business at Alabama's Port

Thanks to Rebuild Alabama, we are also making improvements to Alabama's Deepwater Port in Mobile. With the current global supply issues, having an international resource in the Port of Mobile is ever more critical. As a matter of fact, our exports are up almost 25%. To the rest of the nation, I say loud and clear that Alabama's Port of Mobile is open for business! We are proud to invite the nation and the world to do business with Alabama at our Port.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Alabama legislature Jan 10, 2022

Luther Strange: Kill foreign trade deals

Luther Strange supports killing unfair trade deals with Mexico and China.
Source: 2017-2018 Alabama Senate campaign website LutherStrange.com Aug 31, 2017

Marcus Bowman: Free trade deals such as TPP are undermining America

Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Support & expand free trade"

A: Support free trade and free markets. Do not support trade deals such as TPP. So-called free trade deals such as TPP are undermining America.

Source: Email interview on 2016 Alabama Senate race with OnTheIssues Jan 21, 2016

Mike Durant: 100% pro-Trump, wants to get tougher with China on trade

Mike Durant is 100% Pro-Trump. He voted for President Trump twice, and he supports the America First agenda. He wants to build a wall on the southern border. He wants to get tougher with China on trade. And Mike believes we need an investigation into the way the Democrats changed the rules of the 2020 election so what happened never happens again.
Source: 2022 Alabama Senate campaign website MikeDurant.com Mar 30, 2022

Robert Bentley: $241K to promote AL exports and international trade

Governor Bentley announced that Alabama has won two separate grants totaling $240,600 to increase exports. The grants will work to increase the number of companies exporting by providing hands-on assistance through market research, trade leads and identifying qualified international buyers. "These two grants will allow Alabama to provide funding for our state's companies to sell more Alabama products and services overseas and create jobs through increasing our exports," said Governor Bentley.
Source: Alabama 2011 gubernatorial press release #5716 Oct 5, 2011

Robert Bentley: Spread word far & wide: Made in Alabama

Word is spreading far and wide that Alabama is a great place for companies to do business. There are over 60 Japanese companies in Alabama.

I had the opportunity to travel there to recruit more jobs and strengthen relationships with Japan's biotech industry. I sat on the bus next to the CEO of Otsuka, the parent company of Pharmavite in Lee County. I told him about UAB and Southern Research Institute, and the work they do in the fields of bio-tech research. As a result, Otsuka will be meeting with those institutions to explore ways they can work together in the research and development of new products.

Companies like Otsuka have quickly recognized, as others have, that we have a positive business climate and that our job training program is second to none. But without doubt our greatest asset for any industry is our workforce, the men and women of this state who get up every day and go to work to produce, build and develop a product, a good or a service that is Made in Alabama.

Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Alabama legislature Jan 14, 2014

Ron Crumpton: We've lost more than 2.4 million jobs due to outsourcing

Over the last decade, the United States has lost more than 2.4 million jobs due to outsourcing, but did you know that corporations who ship jobs overseas get a tax deduction for the costs associated with moving jobs and factories overseas. Changing the tax code to limit these deductions is not a new idea. Legislation has been filed on numerous occasions, but each time the Republicans in Congress have killed the legislation.
Source: 2016 Senate campaign website CrumptonForAlabama.com Jul 23, 2015

Ron Crumpton: Oppose free trade; outsourcing costs American jobs

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Support & expand free trade"?

A: Strongly opposes. We've lost more than 2.4 million jobs due to outsourcing: Require all military contracts to use American companies:

Source: Email interview on 2016 Alabama Senate race with OnTheIssues Nov 26, 2015

Roy Moore: Rescind free trade pacts

We must return American manufacturing to our Country by rescinding unfair "free trade" agreements which have severely damaged our economy through loss of jobs and skill development. The phrase "Made in America" should mean something again.
Source: 2017-2018 Alabama Senate campaign website RoyMoore.org Aug 31, 2017

Steve Carlson: Tariffs make world play fair, & bring jobs back to America

Trump is getting NATO ship-shape, as if we are really allies and not just sponging off the United States. Truth is, Trump wants to reduce the threat from Russia and make G-8 work again after Barack Obama messed it up. Minnesota will benefit greatly by restoring the need for steel. It won't happen overnight, but tariffs to make the world play fair is a key component to bringing jobs back to America, back to Minnesota, and building a far brighter future for our world.
Source: CBS-4 Minnesota on 2020 Alabama Senate race Jul 24, 2018

Tommy Tuberville: Reclaiming manufacturing from China will take care of itself

Q: How to overcome dependence on Chinese goods and specifically in the pharmaceutical industry?

TUBERVILLE: Now we're seeing firsthand the results of letting everything go to China. The good thing about this is we'll have manufacturing come back and drugs and all those things. We're headed in that direction, just the simple fact that we can't control our own destiny. Everything's controlled by China. But that'll take care of itself.

Source: Alabama Political Reporter on 2020 Alabama Senate race Feb 9, 2020

Will Boyd: Oppose agreements without recognized workers' rights

Source: 2022 Alabama Senate campaign website DrWillBoyd.com May 25, 2022

William Barnes: It's been proven; a free market doesn't work

Essentially, the Republicans have got this facade now where everything is NO. that's all they want to say is NO, NO, NO.

And the free markets that they talk about... a free market doesn't work. It's been proven. It does not work in totality. And that's what they're saying that they want. Except whenever the changes would benefit them.

But we have to think about benefiting everyone in the state of Alabama, the citizens, the taxpayers, and the people of Alabama.

Source: Left In Alabama (progressive blog) interview of Bill Barnes Aug 4, 2010

  • The above quotations are from State of Alabama Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Free Trade.
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2016 Presidential contenders on Free Trade:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI)
Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023