State of South Carolina Archives: on Free Trade


Elizabeth Colbert-Busch: Build higher bridges for new generation of container ships

Colbert Busch criticized Sanford for voting in Congress against harbor dredging and building a higher bridge so the Port of Charleston could handle a new generation of larger container ships. "My opponent voted against the dredging and voted against the bridge," said Colbert Busch.

The Democrat that she'd talked with Sanford a number of times years ago and he had said he supported trade and dredging. "You didn't tell the truth," she told Sanford. "You turned around and did the opposite."

Sanford later said he opposed the money coming in the form of earmarks. "I was against earmarks before being against earmarks was cool," he said.

Source: News12 on 2013 S.C. House District 1 debate Apr 29, 2013

Thomas Ravenel: Tariffs & other protectionist policies cost Americans jobs

Expanding our participation in the global economy has played an important role in moving all Americans upward on the economic ladder. To promote further progress, we must pursue policies that increase the ability of all to participate in global markets through the buying and selling of goods. Present barriers to free trade such as tariffs and other protectionist policies not only increase the price of the goods we purchase, they also cost Americans high-paying, highly-specialized jobs. Our current President has been a terrible negotiator on trade deals, but Congressional Republicans haven't helped by threatening to sink important agreements based on petty political spats.

Crony capitalism, our current system by which special interests line the campaign coffers of politicians in an effort to cut off competition through protectionist legislation, must end. Free trade increases employment and living standards for all Americans and allows American dollars to purchase more products at lower prices.

Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com Sep 1, 2014

  • The above quotations are from State of South Carolina Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Free Trade.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2024 Presidential contenders on Free Trade:
  Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026