State of Florida Archives: on Free Trade
Alexander Snitker:
No free trade agreements; free trade with all nations
Q: Do you support the United States' involvement in free trade agreements? A: No. I support our founders' vision of free trade with all nations, entangling alliances with none.
The U.S. should not be the world's policeman. I would support a letter of marque and reprisal vs. Bin Laden.
Source: Florida Congressional Election 2010 Political Courage Test
Aug 11, 2010
Andrew Gillum:
Support free trade with restrictions
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Support & expand free trade"?
A: Support with Restrictions--Mayor Gillum supports trade policies that protect workers here at home and expand markets for Florida's products abroad. He believes in strict labor fairness practices so that workers are not being exploited.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Florida Governor candidate
Jun 15, 2018
Andrew Gillum:
Trump's tariffs threaten Florida's workers, farmers
Q: Support Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?Ron DeSantis (R): Yes. Trump is a master negotiator trying to get concessions.
Andrew Gillum (D): No. "He's threatening Florida's workers, farmers, & companies."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Florida Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Andy Martin:
Opposes NAFTA, GATT, and WTO
Q: Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?A: No.
Q: Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)?
A: No.
Q: Do you support continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
A: No.
Q: Do you support China becoming a member of the World Trade Organization?
A: No.
Q: Do you support imposing tariffs on products imported from nations that maintain restrictive trade barriers on American products?
A: Yes.
Q: Should a nation's human rights record affect its normal trade relations (most favored nation status) with the United States?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support normal trade relations (most favored nation status) with Vietnam?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support granting the President "fast-track" authority in trade negotiations?
A: No.
Q: Do you support the trade embargo against Cuba?
A: Yes.
Source: 2000 Florida Congressional National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2000
Brian Moore:
Freeÿtradeÿcauses global inequalities & job loss
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Support & expand free trade"?A: Strongly opposed. ÿFreeÿtradeÿcauses global inequalities, poor working conditions in many developing nations, job loss, and economic imbalance. ÿÿ
Free trade does not create more jobs. It encourages more urbanization.
There are more risks for currency manipulation. There can be fewer intellectual property protections because of free trade.
The developing world doesn't always have worker safeguards in place.ÿ Poorer countries become moreÿdependentÿon their free trade partners.
Source: OnTheIssues.org interview on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Apr 14, 2022
Darren Soto:
Free trade is a nice theory, but oppose NAFTA & TPP
NAFTA didn't work -- and Congress is poised to vote on a new trade deal just like it, called the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
I oppose the TPP and I would vote against it as a member of Congress.There is a lot not to like about the TPP.
One of the worst provisions allows multinational corporations to sue the United States if it disagrees with a regulation that protects workers, keeps prices down on essential medicines, or safeguards our environment from polluters.
"Free trade" is a nice idea, in theory. But when a "free" trade deal is unfair to working families in Florida, I'll fight it every step of the way
Source: 2016 Florida House campaign website DarrenSoto.com
Nov 8, 2016
David Jolly:
Yes to Ex-im bank; No to fast-track
Ballotpedia.org analysis of Congressional voting record on trade issues:- Voted YEA on Trade adjustment assistance (TAA): On 6/12/15, the House rejected the TAA measure in HR 1314 by a vote of 126 to 302. TAA is a federal program providing
American workers displaced by foreign trade agreements with job training and services.
- Voted NAY on Trade promotion authority (TPA): On 6/12/15, the House narrowly passed the TPA measure in HR 1314 by a vote of 219 to 211.
TPA would give the president fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements sent to Congress without the opportunity for amendment or filibuster.
- Voted YEA on Export-Import Bank: On 10/27/15, the House passed HR 597, the Export-Import Bank
Reform and Reauthorization Act, by a vote of 313-118. The bill allows the Export-Import Bank to resume offering assistance in the form of loans and insurance to foreign companies that want to buy U.S. goods.
Source: Ballotpedia.org coverage of 2016 Florida Senate race
Oct 27, 2015
Duncan Hunter:
Let’s buy American this Christmas season
Q: What are you going to do to make sure toys that contain lead don’t make their way into our homes?
A: China is cheating on trade, and they’re using that $200 billion trade deficit over the United States to buy ships, planes and missiles. They are clearly arming. Let’s buy American this Christmas season.
Source: 2007 GOP YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida
Nov 28, 2007
Edward Janowski:
Trade deals not balanced for US but favor global economy
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Support & expand free trade"?A: Most current and past trade deals have been following the path of a global economic policy, which has not been healthy for the US economy.
With the exception of a few specialized areas of trade. The word "trade" suggests an equal exchange of products or services, for an equivalent product or service.
Failure to maintain a balanced trade places one party in the position of supporting both. If this takes place for too long of a time, the party that has been carrying the weight of both will begin to fail and bankrupt itself.
The US has been supporting too many other economies without growing its own for far too long. We need to balance out the trade before our economy collapses onto itself.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Florida Senate candidate
Mar 30, 2018
Gwen Graham:
End tax breaks for companies that ship job overseas
For too long Congress has told people like you and me to play by the rules while giving our tax dollars away to special interests. We must end this wasteful spending and put a stop to corporations that have become freeloaders by forcing them to finally
pay their fair share.- Stand up for small businesses by offering Made in America tax breaks for companies that create jobs at home
- Once and for all, end tax breaks for companies that ship job overseas
- Close tax loopholes that corporations use
to dodge paying their fair share of taxes
- Ending bad trade deals with countries like China and India that steal our jobs
Instead of spending our tax dollars on handouts to the ultra-wealthy and corporations that ship jobs overseas, we should
be making targeted investments in programs that will foster economic growth for everyone--like education, small business loans and programs to incentive companies to create jobs in America.
Source: 2014 Florida House campaign website, GwenGraham.com
Nov 4, 2014
Marco Rubio:
Ban Xinjiang trade to fight Communist China on human rights
[On S.65: Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act]: The law imposes a near-blanket ban on the import to the US of goods from Xinjiang by requiring suppliers to first prove their products were not made with forced labour.UN experts have estimated
that more than one million people, mainly Muslim Uighurs, have been imprisoned in recent years in a vast system of camps in Xinjiang. The US and many rights groups have called it "genocide".
"It is a horrifying human rights situation, fully
sanctioned--as we now know--by the Communist Party of China," Marco Rubio, the lead Republican sponsor of the bill, said. China has rejected allegations of abuse in Xinjiang, accusing countries of launching "slanderous attacks" about conditions for
Uighurs. An independent UK-based tribunal ruled last week the Chinese government had committed genocide, crimes against humanity and torture of Uighurs and other minorities. [See S.65 for details of bill]
Source: Al Jazeera "Xinjiang" on 2022 Florida Senate race
Dec 23, 2021
Nikki Fried:
Opposed Trump trade deal, foreign produce dumping
Fried is the first female to take over Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Fried opposed the 2018
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and pressed for national support to end produce dumping from foreign nations. During the pandemic, she secured federal waivers for students to get free meals.
Source: WPTV Palm Beach NBC-5 on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Jul 2, 2021
Patrick Murphy:
Yes to Ex-im bank; No to fast-track
Ballotpedia.org analysis of Congressional voting record on trade issues:- Voted NAY on Trade adjustment assistance (TAA): On 6/12/15, the House rejected the TAA measure in HR 1314 by a vote of 126 to 302. TAA is a federal program providing
American workers displaced by foreign trade agreements with job training and services.
- Voted NAY on Trade promotion authority (TPA): On 6/12/15, the House narrowly passed the TPA measure in HR 1314 by a vote of 219 to 211.
TPA would give the president fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements sent to Congress without the opportunity for amendment or filibuster.
- Voted YEA on Export-Import Bank: On 10/27/15, the House passed HR 597, the Export-Import Bank
Reform and Reauthorization Act, by a vote of 313-118. The bill allows the Export-Import Bank to resume offering assistance in the form of loans and insurance to foreign companies that want to buy U.S. goods.
Source: Ballotpedia.org coverage of 2016 Florida Senate race
Jun 12, 2015
Ron DeSantis:
No to Ex-im bank; Yes to fast-track
Ballotpedia.org analysis of Congressional voting record on trade issues:- Voted NAY on Trade adjustment assistance (TAA): On 6/12/15, the House rejected the TAA measure in HR 1314 by a vote of 126 to 302. TAA is a federal program providing
American workers displaced by foreign trade agreements with job training and services.
- Voted YEA on Trade promotion authority (TPA): On 6/12/15, the House narrowly passed the TPA measure in HR 1314 by a vote of 219 to 211.
TPA would give the president fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements sent to Congress without the opportunity for amendment or filibuster.
- Voted NAY on Export-Import Bank: On 10/27/15, the House passed HR 597, the Export-Import Bank
Reform and Reauthorization Act, by a vote of 313-118. The bill allows the Export-Import Bank to resume offering assistance in the form of loans and insurance to foreign companies that want to buy U.S. goods.
Source: Ballotpedia.org coverage of 2016 Florida Senate race
Oct 27, 2015
Ron DeSantis:
Trump's tariffs will get concessions from China
Q: Support Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?Ron DeSantis (R): Yes. Trump is a master negotiator trying to get concessions.
Andrew Gillum (D): No. "He's threatening Florida's workers, farmers, & companies."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Florida Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Ron DeSantis:
Expands program to engage new international markets
[On USMCA Mexico-Canada trade deal]: "International trade continues to support millions of jobs for Florida's export and import businesses," said Gov. Ron DeSantis. "The expansion of Enterprise Florida's Virtual Business Matchmaking program will provide
Florida businesses the opportunity to engage new international markets and build their global client base with a reimbursable grant. This program is another example of how Florida is safely helping companies get back to work."
Source: Florida Daily on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Jul 6, 2021
Ron Paul:
Free trade helps all of Latin America, even Cuba
Q: How would you engage in Latin America to support the governments and the political parties that support democracy and free markets?PAUL: Well, I think free trade is the answer. Free trade is an answer to a lot of conflicts around the world, so
I'm always promoting free trade. And you might add Cuba, too. I think we would be a lot better off trading with Cuba.
But as far as us having an obligation, a military or a financial obligation to go down and dictate to them what government they
should have, I don't like that idea. I would try to set a standard here where countries would want to emulate us. Unfortunately, sometimes we slip up on our standards and we go around the world and we try to force ourselves on others.
And yet, I believe with friendship and trade, you can have a lot of influence, and I strongly believe that it's time we have friendship and trade with Cuba.
Source: CNN 2012 GOP primary debate on the eve of Florida primary
Jan 26, 2012
Rudy Giuliani:
China is a great opportunity and a great caution for the US
The reality is that China is a great opportunity for the US and a great caution for the US. It's a great opportunity for us to engage in trade, and the more America engages in trade, the more we get to know a country, the less likely we are to have
military hostilities. We should be working with China to try to push down some of these barriers; protection for intellectual property; rule of law; an ability to sue in China, so you can be protected if you're doing business there. We've got to be very
careful about what we import from China, from the point of view of safety and security, not as much from the point of view of our economy. We have to look at the rise of China as a wonderful opportunity. I see 20 or 30 million people coming out of povert
in China every year. That's 20 or 30 million more customers for the US. That's 20 or 30 million more people we can be selling things to. What can we sell to China? We can sell them energy independence, health processes, and information processes.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida
Jan 24, 2008
Tom Tancredo:
Voted NO on permanent normalized trade relations with China
Q: What are you going to do to make sure toys that contain lead don't make their way into our homes?A: It is illegal to import that kind of thing.
The problem is, no one really pays a lot of attention to a lot of our laws, with regard to immigration of both people and, now in this case; items, goods and services. I voted against permanent normalized trade relations with China.
Source: 2007 GOP YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida
Nov 28, 2007
Marco Rubio:
Assume something made in China is from slave labor
Q: More than one million mostly Muslim minorities are in detention camps in China. According to the State Department, they're subject to forced sterilization, abortions, rape, torture, forced labor, restrictions on prayer, restrictions on movement. I
know you've been working to try to restrict imports made by forced labor inside these camps. But is it really possible to clean up the supply chain, because China is such an economic behemoth here?Sen. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL): We passed a bill that says,
if something is made in a factory in that part of China, we are going to presume it's made by slave labor, and not allow it into the country, unless companies can prove that that's not the case. I think there are many American companies, like Nike and
others, that have definitely benefited from the supply chain that's located in that part of the world. We saw the lobbying efforts of Apple, of Nike and others arguing that this would raise the costs for consumers. But, ultimately, it's slave labor.
Source: CBS Face the Nation on 2022 Florida Senate race
Feb 6, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023