State of Illinois Archives: on Free Trade
Alexi Giannoulias:
Eliminate $200B in tax loopholes that ship jobs overseas
End Unfair Trade Agreements and Fight China's Anticompetitive Practices: Alexi wants to renegotiate NAFTA and other trade pacts, ensuring that future agreements learn from out past mistakes.
He also wants to close loopholes that give tax breaks to companies that ship overseas, raising nearly $200 billion by doing so.
Source: 2010 Senate campaign website, AlexiForIllinois.com, "Issues"
Dec 25, 2009
Barack Obama:
Fair trade should have tangible benefits for US
[Obama believes in] ensuring fair trade by enforcing existing trade agreements. Obama believes any trade agreement must have real, tangible benefits for U.S. business and workers and will work to enforce the trade agreements on the books.
Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, ObamaForIllinois.com
Jun 25, 2004
Jim Oberweis:
Challenge in China is lack of clarity on taxes
Q: When doing business in China, how do you navigate waters like capital gains? You've observed in the past that, yes, they may be on the book somewhere, but nobody pays attention to them.Oberweis: We talked a lot to our tax people on this, as well.
As it currently stands, nobody pays it and you have to be aware of it. I think you're going to see clarification on it, though. I think, within the next couple years, there'll be much sharper clarification. It's not only a question of China, but what
about other companies that are listed elsewhere or have part of their business elsewhere? Or companies where their headquarters are elsewhere, but all the businesses are in China? That's one of the challenges of investing in China, is the lack of clarity
with respect to tax positions. We have experts on our team who try to help advise us. I'll be the first to tell you, it is not a crystal clear area and you have to make the best decisions you can under the circumstances that you know.
Source: Forbes Magazine interview on 2014 Illinois Senate race
Jan 5, 2012
Jim Oberweis:
Invest in Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, India, and China
Q: What countries interest you in Asia, besides China?Oberweis: I'm going to Jakarta for an exploratory reason in February.
Q: Do you fear you've missed it?
Oberweis: Maybe. It's been on fire. We're going to go visit companies and look and see. We
were in Vietnam two years ago looking at the same types of things. Vietnam is a great place to be. It's a really hard place to play public equity markets, just because it's a relatively corrupt insider trading environment. We're certainly seeing more
ideas in Japan than we've seen in a long time. Part of that is currency, part of it is rebuilding and part of it is, I think, increasing trade with China. You would expect that, with the exception of the cultural barriers that are so high, but I think
you'll see a little bit more of that in the decade to come. Money has a way of trumping even the gravest of enemies over time. India has always been an area of interest for us. Until recently, it's been hard to find the valuations that we like.
Source: Forbes Magazine interview on 2014 Illinois Senate race
Jan 5, 2012
Mark Curran:
Tariffs may be necessary; subsidize farmers if required
I think tariffs on international commerce may be necessary. The United States is the great food exporter to the world. Illinois farmers suffered from the tariffs. President Trump wisely did give some of the increased tariff money to farmers.
I think that it important that we protect farmers. America needs to continue to be the great food exporter and Illinois needs to continue to be the heartland. I am in favor of subsidies if that is what is required in a down year to keep the farmer going.
Source: Chicago Sun Times on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Jan 22, 2020
Pat Quinn:
Exports support 500,000 jobs in IL; double that in 5 years
Illinois is a major player on the global stage. Our current exports support more than a half a million Illinois jobs. In 2010, our state's exports went up by nearly 20% to just under 50 billion dollars. We are 6th in the nation in exports, and first in
the Midwest. As Governor, I pledge double our exports over the next five years. To meet this goal, we will be reorganizing our foreign trade offices--working with representatives from international markets to develop new trading relationships and enhance
the ones already in place. For example: we recently hosted the president of China and his delegation of trade officials. These meetings resulted in $1.8 billion in agreements that will sell 25% of Illinois' soybean crop to China.
In 2010, exports from Illinois to China increased by nearly 30%. And more than 30 Chinese companies have already invested in Illinois, employing thousands of Illinois workers.
Source: Illinois 2011 State of the State Budget Address
Feb 16, 2011
Tammy Duckworth:
Yes 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 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 Illinois Senate race
Oct 27, 2015
Juliana Stratton:
Trump's Tax on Working Families will harm hardworking people
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton issued the following statement in response to President Trump's implementation of 25% tariffs on all Mexican and Canadian goods:"Illinois' economic strength is built on trade relationships that have taken
generations to cultivate. While the Trump administration promised economic relief, they have instead delivered nothing but chaos and an unnecessary tax that undermines our standing with trading partners and places the burden squarely on the shoulders
of working families. I know firsthand that Trump's Tax on Working Families will harm the hardworking people who feed our nation and world.
"This is a direct attack on our farmers and our hardworking families. No matter what comes out of the
White House, Illinois will continue to collaborate with our trade partners, continue to foster long-lasting economic growth, and fight against anything that threatens the livelihood of Illinois families."
Source: Riverbender.com on 2026 Illinois Senate race
Mar 4, 2025
Raja Krishnamoorthi:
Tariffs are a hidden tax on families and small businesses
Krishnamoorthi concluded a three-stop "Trump Tariff Tour" across Illinois to highlight the destructive economic impact of President Trump's blanket tariff policies. Krishnamoorthi heard directly how Trump's tariffs are driving up costs and threatening
jobs across the state."Whether it's a family farm, a neighborhood kombucha brewery, or a local produce distributor, Illinois businesses and working families are footing the bill for Donald Trump's reckless tariff war," Krishnamoorthi said. "These
tariffs are a hidden tax on hardworking families and small businesses, and they're already doing real damage to our economy. Illinoisans shouldn't have to pay the price for Trump's self-inflicted economic wounds. It's time to end these tariffs now."
Across the state, the congressman warned that if fully implemented, Trump's proposed tariffs could cost the average Illinois household at least $4,400 per year, with 44% of small businesses already bracing for revenue losses.
Source: House press release in Riverbender:2026 Illinois Senate race
Apr 29, 2025
Robin Kelly:
Against tariffs; trade should be fair and equitable
[On President Trump's tariffs]: "I have 4,500 farms in my district," Kelly said. "I'm devastated by it. Not only the tariffs, but also the destruction of USAID, which helps farmers, also. I think farmers are being slammed from every direction.
I don't agree with the tariffs. I think trade should be fair and equitable. I'm not saying one side should take advantage of the United States, either. But this does not help us. Tariffs are a tax on the American people."
Source: Pontiac Daily Leader on 2026 Illinois Senate race
Apr 17, 2025
J.B. Pritzker:
Tariffs amount to a tax increase on consumers
Pritzker said in a statement that tariffs amount to a tax increase on consumers and contribute to economic uncertainty. "This Executive Order ensures we have a clear-eyed view of the impact the Trump Slump will cause from higher prices
at the grocery store to uncertainty in our farms and factories," Pritzker said. "We're working with other states to stand up for working people and protect our economies when we can."
Source: Capital News Illinois on 2026 Illinois Gubernatorial race
Jul 14, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026