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Kay Hagan on Free Trade
Democratic Jr Senator; previously member of State Senate
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Fix trade agreements to avoid job loss
Kay Hagan slammed her rival for backing free trade agreements despite concerns about North Carolina jobs. But the Democratic challenger called for fixing--not removing--such agreements. Hagan unveiled her trade policies, [focusing on] unemployment and
trade policy.Hagan released papers that question why her opponent, Sen. Elizabeth Dole, would support pacts such as the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Critics say the North American partner of 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.
Source: By Mike Baker, Associated Press, on WRAL
, Jul 25, 2008
Would have voted against CAFTA due to labor concerns
Hagan’s trade policy doesn’t call for the removal of CAFTA or NAFTA. Instead, Hagan wants to modify the pacts so they include enforceable labor and environmental standards to hold other countries accountable and to prevent companies from moving their
operations to places without controls. And she wants the Department of Justice to have the authority to enforce trade agreements.“When done right, trade opens up nations to new products, new opportunities, and new ideas,”
Hagan wrote in introducing her plan. Her campaign said she would have voted against CAFTA as it is written.
Hagan also wants to increase government funding for research and development and increase access to technology in rural parts of the country.
She would also expand tuition tax credits to improve education. Hagan’s plan does not detail how she would pay for the programs.
Source: By Mike Baker, Associated Press, on WRAL
, Jul 25, 2008
Oppose trade deals that are bad for North Carolina workers
She will oppose any trade deals that are bad for North Carolina workers.
Source: 2008 Senate campaign website, www.KayHagan.com, “Issues”
, Jul 12, 2008
Rated 38% by the USAE, indicating support for trade sanctions.
Hagan scores 38% by USA*Engage on trade issues
Ratings by USA*Engage indicate support for trade engagement or trade sanctions. The organization's self-description: "USA*Engage is concerned about the proliferation of unilateral foreign policy sanctions at the federal, state and local level. Despite the fact that broad trade-based unilateral sanctions rarely achieve our foreign policy goals, they continue to have political appeal. Unilateral sanctions give the impression that the United States is 'doing something,' while American workers, farmers and businesses absorb the costs."
USA*Engage at Work- Developing the Case: USA*Engage explains the benefits of economic engagement, and the high cost of sanctions for American exports, investment and jobs.
- Education: We recruit respected foreign policy and economic experts to speak out against sanctions, actively engage the media and provide outreach to key target states and Congressional districts.
- Contacting Government Officials: USA*Engage directly contacts Congressional, Administration, state and local officials.
VoteMatch scoring for the USA*Engage ratings is as follows :
- 0%-49%: supports trade sanctions;
- 50%-74%: mixed record on trade engagement;
- 75%-100%: supports trade engagement.
Source: USA*Engage 2011-2012 ratings on Congress and politicians 2012-USAE on Dec 31, 2012
Page last updated: Apr 25, 2016