Julian Castro on Free Trade Democratic Presidential Challenger (withdrawn); former HUD Secretary

Erratic, haphazard trade wars hurt American families

CASTRO: Well, look, I agree with those who have said that this erratic, haphazard trade war is hurting American families. As Senator Klobuchar said, [Trump's trade war has cost 300,000 American jobs. It's estimated that it's cost $600 to the average American family. So when I become president, I would immediately begin to negotiate with China to ratchet down that trade war. We have leverage there. I also believe, though, that we need to return to a leader when it comes to things like human rights. When it comes to this trade war, I would immediately begin ratcheting that trade war down. We have leverage in that discussion.

Demand changes to post-NAFTA agreement USMCA

15 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Joe Biden; Cory Booker; Pete Buttigieg; Bill de Blasio; Kirsten Gillibrand; Kamala Harris; John Hickenlooper; Jay Inslee; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke; Tim Ryan; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Marianne Williamson.

The majority of Democratic candidates want changes made to the agreement before it comes up for a vote in Congress, focusing on making changes to labor standards, environmental provisions, access to medicines and enforcement of the deal. Seventeen candidates, asked by Citizens Trade Campaign, a national coalition pushing for changes to USMCA, agreed that Congress should not approve the deal until changes have been made.

Mayor de Blasio has been among the most vocal candidates in expressing his opposition. "It's got a different name, but it's still NAFTA," he told CNN in July. "It's even worse in some ways. It gives even more power to corporations this time."

Protect American workers but take part in global economy

Renegotiate NAFTA to protect workers & environment

Renegotiate NAFTA