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Elizabeth Dole on Free Trade

Republican Sr Senator


CAFTA has created jobs for North Carolina

Kay Hagan slammed her rival for backing free trade agreements despite concerns about North Carolina jobs. Hagan released papers that question why her opponent, Sen. Elizabeth Dole, would support pacts such as CAFTA. Critics say the agreement accelerated the decline of North Carolina’s manufacturing and textile industries.

CAFTA supporters, however, say it does the opposite. Dole helped approve the CAFTA agreement in 2005, arguing the pact would remove tariffs in other countries and bring North Carolina products to a new marketplace. She said sectors such as agriculture and pharmaceuticals would benefit. Dole also said it would benefit the textile industry because American fabric would be used in Central America, and her office said the region became the second largest market for North Carolina manufacturing, agriculture and textile products in 2006, with more than $1.8 billion in exports. Dole’s office also said she has secured $57 million for U.S. Customs to enforce textile trade.

Source: By Mike Baker, Associated Press, on WRAL Jul 25, 2008

China: Two-track policy: Open markets + political reforms

Dole criticized the Administration for treating China as a “strategic partner” despite human rights violations and its development of advanced weapons systems that, she said, could threaten the US. China “imprisons and persecutes dissidents and religious believers,” she said. “It employs prison labor. It steals our nuclear and other military secrets.” It was not clear how her “two-track policy” to promote open markets and political reforms in China would differ from current goals in Washington.
Source: New York Times, Diana Jean Schemo, p. A21 Sep 28, 1999

China: Expand trade, but linked to human rights

Dole said she supported expanding business with China while linking it to improving human rights in that country. “I think you can actually have a separate track where you actually move forward to expand trade in China,” she said.
Source: Kevin Landrigan, Nashua Telegraph Aug 22, 1999

An open global market helps our economy thrive

It’s a truism that we live in a global world. But history has shown that the kind of world it is, makes a world of difference. An international economic system dominated by closed markets, command economies, trade barriers and mistrust - would cripple our economy. A world of open markets, free enterprise, free trade and the rule of law - helps us and all our friends to thrive.
Source: Remarks to the Detroit Economic Club, 29 April 1999 Apr 29, 1999

Free trade zone for the entire Western Hemisphere

The Clinton-Gore team is still stalling on lowering trade barriers by expanding NAFTA. Meanwhile, aside from Mexico, trade is stagnant between the United States and Latin America. The impact is serious:economists calculate that Latin America’s per-capita income will actually be less next year than it was two years ago. That’s why I’m calling for a free trade zone for the entire Western Hemisphere. Nothing could make a greater contribution to growing the economies of all the Americas.
Source: Remarks to the Detroit Economic Club, 29 April 1999 Apr 29, 1999

Authorize “Fast Track” for trade negotiations

[We need] approval of fast track-the President’s authority, consulting with Congress, to negotiate trade agreements around the world. While we debate and delay, other countries move forward with trade partnerships that put our products at a disadvantage. Fast track does not diminish Congress’s role - it still has the final say, by majority vote, before any agreement would take effect. But fast track does recognize the vital role of the executive in speaking for our country in world trade forums.
Source: Remarks to the Detroit Economic Club, 29 April 1999 Apr 29, 1999

Admit China to the World Trade Organization

It’s also time [to allow] the entry of China into the WTO. History teaches that greater economic freedom moves nations down the path to political freedom. and that promotes peace. The recently negotiated agreement contains.provisions that commit China to opening its markets on a definite schedule. Let’s now resolve our remaining differences. Let’s be skeptical and prudent. let’s watch our defenses. but let’s not lose this opportunity to promote and participate in China’s market economy.
Source: Remarks to the Detroit Economic Club, 29 April 1999 Apr 29, 1999

Voted YES on promoting free trade with Peru.

Approves the Agreement entered into with the government of Peru. Provides for the Agreement's entry into force upon certain conditions being met on or after January 1, 2008. Prescribes requirements for:

Proponents support voting YES because:

Rep. RANGEL: It's absolutely ridiculous to believe that we can create jobs without trade. I had the opportunity to travel to Peru recently. I saw firsthand how important this agreement is to Peru and how this agreement will strengthen an important ally of ours in that region. Peru is resisting the efforts of Venezuela's authoritarian President Hugo Chavez to wage a war of words and ideas in Latin America against the US. Congress should acknowledge the support of the people of Peru and pass this legislation by a strong margin.

Opponents recommend voting NO because:

Rep. WU: I regret that I cannot vote for this bill tonight because it does not put human rights on an equal footing with environmental and labor protections.

Rep. KILDEE: All trade agreements suffer from the same fundamental flaw: They are not self-enforcing. Trade agreements depend upon vigorous enforcement, which requires official complaints be made when violations occur. I have no faith in President Bush to show any enthusiasm to enforce this agreement. Congress should not hand this administration yet another trade agreement because past agreements have been more efficient at exporting jobs than goods and services. I appeal to all Members of Congress to vote NO on this. But I appeal especially to my fellow Democrats not to turn their backs on those American workers who suffer from the export of their jobs. They want a paycheck, not an unemployment check.

Reference: Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act; Bill H.R. 3688 ; vote number 2007-413 on Dec 4, 2007

Voted NO on free trade agreement with Oman.

Vote on final passage of a bill to implement the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement.
Reference: United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement; Bill S. 3569 ; vote number 2006-190 on Jun 29, 2006

Voted YES on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade.

Approves the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States-Free Trade Agreement entered into on August 5, 2005, with the governments of Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (CAFTA-DR), and the statement of administrative action proposed to implement the Agreement. Voting YES would:
Reference: Central America Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; Bill HR 3045 ; vote number 2005-209 on Jul 28, 2005

Voted NO on establishing free trade between US & Singapore.

Vote to pass a bill that would put into effect a trade agreement between the US and Singapore. The trade agreement would reduce tariffs and trade barriers between the US and Singapore. The agreement would remove tariffs on goods and duties on textiles, and open markets for services The agreement would also establish intellectual property, environmental and labor standards.
Reference: US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; Bill S.1417/HR 2739 ; vote number 2003-318 on Jul 31, 2003

Voted YES on establishing free trade between the US and Chile.

Vote to pass a bill that would put into effect a trade agreement between the US and Chile. The agreement would reduce tariffs and trade barriers between the US and Chile. The trade pact would decrease duties and tariffs on agricultural and textile products. It would also open markets for services. The trade pact would establish intellectual property safeguards and would call for enforcement of environmental and labor standards.
Reference: US-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; Bill S.1416/HR 2738 ; vote number 2003-319 on Jul 31, 2003

Extend trade restrictions on Burma to promote democracy.

Dole co-sponsored extending trade restrictions on Burma to promote democracy

A joint resolution approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003. The original act sanctioned the ruling military junta, and recognized the National League of Democracy as the legitimate representative of the Burmese people.

Legislative Outcome: Related bills: H.J.RES.44, H.J.RES.93, S.J.RES.41; became Public Law 110-52.

Source: S.J.RES.16 07-SJR16 on Jun 14, 2007

Other candidates on Free Trade: Elizabeth Dole on other issues:
NC Gubernatorial:
Bev Perdue
NC Senatorial:
Kay Hagan
Richard Burr

Newly elected in 2008 & seated in 2009:
AK:Begich (D)
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Newly appointed in 2009;
special election in 2010:

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Page last updated: Nov 22, 2009