State of Texas Archives: on Free Trade
MJ Hegar:
Supported USMCA; wish environmental groups more involved
We are a state and a country that is dependent on trade for both our economy and national security, and we need to be the ones setting the rules. I support the USMCA because it is good for the Texas economy and workers.
While I am especially glad that labor had a seat at the table, I wish that the environmental groups would have had more of a seat.
Source: The Texas Tribune on 2020 Texas Senate race
Feb 12, 2020
Sema Hernandez:
Move from free trade to fair trade
Our trade agreements must be rewritten to be mutually beneficial for all countries involved. Moving from a free trade deal to fair trade deal will include raising the minimum wage to a living wage, increasing environmental protections,
improving the standard of working and living conditions, and protecting workers' right to unionize both here and in trade partner nations.
Source: 2020 Texas Senate campaign website, Sema4Texas.com
Jan 12, 2020
Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez:
Smart trade policy protects workers, not just businesses
Our current trade policy involves escalating trade wars that only increase prices for working and middle class families. Cristina believes that smart trade policy does not only protect the interests of businesses, but also the interests of our workers.
Cristina will advocate for policy that protects labor rights, enforces environmental regulations, and maintains a level playing field between our international trade partners.
Source: 2020 Texas Senate campaign website CristinaForTexas.com
Dec 19, 2019
Beto O`Rourke:
Tariffs on China will devastate our economy
Q: Support Trump's imposition of tariffs on steel & other products?Ted Cruz (R): No.
Also opposed federal aid given to TX farmers hurt by trade retaliation.
Beto O'Rourke (D): No. They "will devastate our state, businesses, & economy."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Texas Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Ted Cruz:
Supports tariffs; opposes bailouts to those hurt by them
Q: Support Trump's imposition of tariffs on steel & other products?Ted Cruz (R): No.
Also opposed federal aid given to TX farmers hurt by trade retaliation.
Beto O'Rourke (D): No. They "will devastate our state, businesses, & economy."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Texas Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Greg Abbott:
Expand Texas' robust trade relationship with Canada
Governor Greg Abbott today met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Houston to discuss energy, trade relations and commercial ties between Texas and Canada. Prime Minister Trudeau met with the Governor while in Texas attending the CERAWeek
Conference. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed common goals on energy, trade and education. Additionally, Governor Abbott and Prime Minister Trudeau spoke about the growing importance of entrepreneurship and technology.
The meeting concluded with shared optimism of further strengthening this important partnership."Today's meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau was very productive, and I was honored to have him here in the Lone Star State. As Texas' second largest
export destination, Canada is a strong trading partner with Texas, especially in the energy sector. I look forward to continue working with Prime Minister Trudeau to expand Texas' already robust relationship with Canada."
Source: 2018 Texas Governor campaign press release
Mar 10, 2017
Jodey Arrington:
Break down unfair trade barriers
Unfair Trade Restricts American Agriculture Products:
I'll be dedicated to breaking down unfair trade barriers so our people and products have the opportunity to both export to and profit from new markets. When American agribusinesses can fairly compete overseas, people will choose to buy our products.
Source: 2016 Texas House campaign website JodeyArrington.com
Nov 8, 2016
Vicente Gonzalez:
Strengthen trade ties along the Texas-Mexico border
Jobs and Standing Up for South Texas: I will fight for good paying jobs to build our local economies and grow the middle class.-
Support the creation of quality higher wage jobs.
- Strengthen trade ties along the Texas-Mexico border.
- Invest today for the infrastructure we need tomorrow (roads, water, power grid.)
Source: 2016 Texas House campaign website VicenteGonzalez.com
Nov 8, 2016
Donald Trump:
With a $58 billion trade deficit, Mexico will pay for wall
RUBIO: About the trade war -- I don't understand, because your ties and the clothes are made in Mexico and in China. You're going to start a trade war against your own ties and suits. Why don't you make them in America?
TRUMP: We have a trade deficit with Mexico of $58 billion a year. We're going to make them pay for that wall. The wall is $10 billion to $12 billion.
I don't mind trade wars when we're losing $58 billion a year. Mexico is taking our businesses. They de-value their currencies to such an extent that our businesses cannot compete with them, our workers lose their jobs.
You wouldn't know anything about it because you're a lousy businessman.
Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary
Feb 25, 2016
Marco Rubio:
Instead of trade war against Mexico, bring jobs home
TRUMP: We have a trade deficit with Mexico of $58 billion a year. We're going to make them pay for that wall. The wall is $10 billion to $12 billion.
I don't mind trade wars when we're losing $58 billion a year. Mexico is taking our businesses. They de-value their currencies to such an extent that our businesses cannot compete with them, our workers lose their jobs.
You wouldn't know anything about it because you're a lousy businessman. RUBIO: About the trade war -- I don't understand, because your ties and the clothes are made in Mexico and in China.
You're going to start a trade war against your own ties and suits. Why don't you make them in America?
Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary
Feb 25, 2016
Greg Abbott:
Expand Texas' long-standing trade partnership with Mexico
Texas and Mexico share more than a border; we are connected by commerce, culture and family. As I travel to Mexico this week--my first international visit as governor of Texas--I look forward to continuing my dialogue with Mexican officials to improve
bilateral relations, expand our long-standing trade partnership, discuss challenges like immigration and water, and ultimately expand economic prosperity for families on both sides of the border.Texas exports more goods than any other US state, and
Mexico is our top trade partner by far. In 2014, Texas exported more than $100 billion in machinery, technology and other commodities to Mexico, about 35% of the state's total exports. These exports sustain thousands of businesses in Texas and more than
1.1 million jobs. We also imported more than $90 billion of goods from our southern neighbor last year.
I now look forward to continuing our dialogue, to cultivate an even stronger bond and create more opportunities to expand trade.
Source: Houston Chronicle on 2018 Texas Gubernatorial race
Sep 5, 2015
Emily Sanchez:
Opposes expanding free trade
Q: Do you support or oppose expanding free trade?
A: Oppose.
Source: E-mail interview on Texas 2014 Senate race with OnTheIssues
Sep 19, 2014
Ted Cruz:
Defended Chinese company on intellectual property theft
Cruz's record came under scrutiny when moderators from Houston public radio's KUHF asked him about his legal work for a Chinese tire company in its appeal against a $26 million judgment that it had stolen intellectual property from an
American tire company. Cruz said he was one of several attorneys on the case and that he had represented American companies against Chinese firms as well.
Source: Associated Press on ABC News on 2012 Texas Senate debate
May 3, 2012
David Alameel:
Put America first; change unfair free-trade agreements
- Put America back to work by expanding job creation.
- Restore the high paying jobs and benefits which existed before the advent of "Supply-Side" conservative economics.
- Reverse outsourcing & Restore our manufacturing base.
- Enact "Putting
America first" policies:
- Change unfair free-trade agreements by standing up to cheaters like China, etc.
- Eliminate all overseas/offshore tax benefits & loopholes on trillions of dollars of hidden profits.
Source: 2010 Texas House campaign website, AlameelForCongress.com
Nov 1, 2010
Jon Roland:
Free trade ok as long as sovereignty considered
Q: Do you support the United States imposing economic sanctions on China? A: No.
Q: Do you support the United States imposing trade sanctions on Venezuela?
A: No.
Q: Do you support the United States involvement in free trade agreements?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the United States involvement in intergovernmental organizations dedicated to trade?
A: Yes, but not to extent it infringes sovereignty.
Source: Texas Congressional Election 2008 Political Courage Test
May 2, 2008
Barack Obama:
Strong labor, safety, and environmental standards on trade
It is absolutely critical that we engaged in trade, but it has to be viewed not just through the lens of Wall Street, but also Main Street, which means we’ve got strong labor standards and strong environmental standards and safety standards, so we don’t
have toys being shipped in the US with lead paint on them. There are also opportunities in our economy around creating a green economy. We send $1 billion to foreign countries every day because of our addiction to foreign oil.
For us to move rapidly to cap greenhouse gases, generate billions of dollars that we can reinvest in solar and wind and biodiesel that can put people back to work. How do we get it done? The changes are only going to come about if we’re able to form
a working coalition for change. It has to be a priority for whoever the next president is to be able to overcome the dominance of the special interests in Washington, to bring about the kinds of economic changes that I’m talking about.
Source: 2008 Democratic debate at University of Texas in Austin
Feb 21, 2008
Hillary Clinton:
Have a trade prosecutor to enforce the trade agreements
Q: What would you do differently than a Pres. Obama would when it comes to the economy?A: I would agree with Obama a lot, because it is the Democratic agenda. We are going to rid the tax code of these loopholes & giveaways. We’re going to stop giving
penny of your money to anybody who ships a job out to another country. We’re going to begin to get the tax code to reflect what the needs of middle class families are so we can rebuild a strong & prosperous middle class. The wealthy & the well-connected
have had a president the last 7 years, and it’s time that the rest of the US had a president to work for you every single day. We will have a different approach toward trade. We’re going to start having trade agreements that not only have strong
environmental and labor standards, but also a trade time-out. We’re going to look and see what’s working & what’s not working. I’d like to have a trade prosecutor to actually enforce the trade agreements that we have before we enter into any others.
Source: 2008 Democratic debate at University of Texas in Austin
Feb 21, 2008
Ralph Nader:
It’s not free trade; it’s corporate-managed trade
Free trade is a misnomer. Monopoly patents are not free trade; they’re trying to convert all sorts of natural knowledge into intellectual property, 20-year patents. That’s not free trade. And the rest of it is
managed trade. True free trade would take only one page for a trade agreement. How come there are hundreds of pages, and thousands of regulations? It’s corporate-managed trade.
Source: New Texas, Candidate For a Green Planet
Apr 28, 2000
George W. Bush:
Free & fair trade is key to economic future
We must continue to build on our parents’ legacy of freedom -- freedom for individuals, freedom for nations, freedom for markets and free and fair trade. And we know the key to future economic growth and prosperity at home is the free flow of goods and
services and ideas.
Source: Powell Lecture Series, Texas A&M Univ.
Apr 6, 1998
Brian Babin:
Opposes NAFTA and GATT
Q: Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?A: No.
Q: Do you support broadening NAFTA to include other countries?
A: No.
Q: Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)?
A: No.
Q: Do you support the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
A: Undecided.
Q: Do you support lifting the trade embargo imposed against Cuba?
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 "most favored nation" trading status with the United States?
A: Yes.
Source: Texas Legislative 1996 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1996
Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021