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Jeanne Shaheen on Free Trade

Democrat Sr Senator; previously Governor

 


Opposes tariffs on steel and aluminum imports

Several days after Trump threatened to impose the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, Jeanne Shaheen voiced deep concern about the potential impact of a trade war with Canada, which is the top recipient of NH international exports. Shaheen told WMUR she was concerned by the promise by Canadian officials to retaliate if Trump follows through on his promise.

Shaheen said, "These tariffs could negatively impact every sector of New Hampshire's economy and will undoubtedly drive up costs for consumers. There's no question that we need to address unfairly traded steel from China, but we must do so in a way that doesn't start a trade war that puts NH's economy at risk and unnecessarily cuts off markets for NH's businesses, such as Canada."

Shaheen added, "President Trump's impulsive announcement is already sending shock waves across the world markets. It's time the president listened to experts who understand that launching a trade war will kill jobs and hurt families across our country."

Source: WMUR on 2018 New Hampshire governor race , Mar 5, 2018

Expand opportunities to export to markets around the globe

Jeanne knows that small businesses are the job creators in New Hampshire's economy. She fights to make sure that small business can compete for federal research grants. She is working to expand opportunities for small businesses to export and sell their products and services to growing markets around the globe. Jeanne helped craft the Small Business Jobs Act that included tax cuts for small businesses and boosted access to credit though SBA lending programs. She fought for the creation of the Manchester Job Corps Center and is a leading advocate for attracting students to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to be prepared for the jobs of the future.
Source: 2014 New Hampshire Senate campaign website JeanneShaheen.org , Jul 18, 2014

Develop an open North American energy market.

Shaheen signed the New England Governors' Conference resolution:

Source: NEG/ECP Resolution 25-12: Energy / NICE 00-NEGC12 on Jul 18, 2000

Foster globalization with New England & Eastern Canada.

Shaheen signed the New England Governors' Conference resolution:

  • WHEREAS, a successful Knowledge Industry Innovators’ Forum resulted in the identification of issues critical to the continued development of a knowledge economy in the Northeast; and
  • WHEREAS, the Governor’s Conference is desirous of working together, in cooperation with the business community, to promote economic growth, facilitate trade flows across borders, and identify future opportunities for trade development;
  • NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers adopt the [work plan summarized here]:
    1. Continue to focus on the development of strategies and initiatives that Premiers and Governors can undertake to grow the Northeast region’s knowledge economy.
    2. Monitor and discuss national and international trade policy, including NAFTA, WTO, and discussions regarding a free trade agreement of the Americas.
    3. Identification of border crossing impediments and strategies for addressing; including cross-border re-location of professionals, and businesses wishing to conduct business in both countries.
    4. Assess opportunities and challenges facing the Northeast energy sector.
  • BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Standing Committee on Trade and Globalization seek appropriate resources to undertake a trade and infrastructure study for the region; and
  • BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that [we commit to] continue working with innovators to profile the region’s knowledge economy sector, identify key public and private sector institutions in order to encourage the development of a strong, representative, regional network to assist Governors and Premiers in facilitating the continued development of a knowledge economy in the Northeast.
    Source: NEG/ECP Resolution 26-5: Trade & Globalization 01-NEGC5 on Aug 28, 2001

    Maintain sugar quotas & import tariffs to stabilize prices.

    Shaheen sponsored Sugar Reform Act

    Congressional Summary:Sugar Reform Act:

    Proponent's argument for bill:(Senators' opinions reported on politico.com) "We subsidize a handful of wealthy sugar growers at the expense of everybody in America," said Sen. Patrick Toomey (R-Pa.), whose home state boasts the chocolate giant, Hershey's. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), warned her colleagues against unraveling the commodity coalition behind the farm bill: "We forget that this is much bigger than a sugar program. It's much bigger than any one single commodity. When you single out one commodity, you threaten the effectiveness of the overall farm bill."

    Opponent's argument against bill:(Food and Business News, May 2013): Users claim the sugar program nearly doubles the price of sugar to US consumers and has resulted in lost jobs as some candy manufacturers have moved operations to other countries. Producers claim the program has resulted in more stable sugar supplies, provides a safety net for growers and that world prices are often lower because of subsidies in origin countries, which would put US growers at a disadvantage should import restrictions be lifted. Producers also note that US sugar prices have declined more than 50% from late 2011 highs. They also maintain that jobs have been lost or moved out of the US for reasons other than sugar prices, mainly labor and health care costs, noting that candy makers' profits have been strong in recent years.

    Source: S.345/ H.R.693 13-S345 on Feb 14, 2013

    Fight Chinese predatory trade practices on car tires.

    Shaheen signed fighting Chinese predatory trade practices on car tires

    Excerpts from Letter from 31 Senators to the Secretary of Commerce: We are writing in strong support of the Department's decision to initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of passenger vehicle and light truck tires from China.

    China has targeted the tire sector for development and there are several hundred tire manufacturing facilities now operating in that country. In 2009, the United Steelworkers (USW) sought relief from a flood of similar tires from China that were injuring our producers and their workers.

    Unfortunately, shortly after relief expired in 2012, imports of these tires from China once again skyrocketed. In June 2014, the USW alleged dumping and subsidies, identifying dumping margins as high as 87%. Our laws need to be fairly and faithfully enforced to ensure that workers can be confident that, when they work hard and play by the rules, their government will stand by their side to fight foreign predatory trade practices.

    America's laws against unfair trade are a critical underpinning of our economic policies and economic prosperity. Given the chance, American workers can out-compete anyone. But, in the face of China's continual targeting of our manufacturing base, we need to enforce our laws.

    Opposing argument: (Cato Institute, "Burning Rubber", Sept. 11, 2009) USW and the unions feel that they have earned the president's support. The president is presumed to owe Big Labor for his election last November. Will the president do what is overwhelmingly in the best interest of the country? Or will he do what he thinks is best for himself politically? The president should reject the recommendations of the USITC and deny import restrictions altogether. A decision to reject trade restraints in the tires case would be reassuring to a world that is struggling to grow out of recession. The costs of any protectionism under these circumstances could unleash a protectionist backlash in the US an

    Source: Car Tire Letter 14LTR-USW on Sep 16, 2014

    Voted FOR reauthorizing Ex-Im Bank.

    Shaheen voted NAY Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act

    Heritage Action summary of vote# S206: The Senate voted to table (kill) an amendment by Sen. Kirk to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. Sen. Kirk recommends voting NO. Heritage Foundation recommends voting YES because the "Ex-Im Bank is little more than a $140 billion slush fund for corporate welfare."

    OnTheIssues explanation: Voting NO would allow a vote on reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank. Voting YES would kill the bill for reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank.

    Sierra Club reason for conditionally voting NO (from previous bill S.819):Sen. Shaheen's bill S.824 reauthorizes the Ex-Im Bank without undermining Obama's Climate Action Plan. The Sierra Club supports the bill because it makes both financial and environmental sense for the US and all of its taxpayer-backed financial institutions--including Ex-Im--to stop investing in dirty and dangerous fossil fuels like coal.

    Cato Institute reason for voting YES to kill the bill:The Ex-Im Bank's reauthorization buffs contend that Ex-Im fills a void left by private sector lenders unwilling to provide financing for certain transactions. Ex-Im's critics [say that] by effectively superseding risk-based decision-making with the choices of a handful of bureaucrats pursuing political objectives, Ex-Im risks taxpayer dollars. It turns out that for nearly every Ex-Im financing authorization that might advance the fortunes of a single US company, there is at least one US industry whose firms are put at a competitive disadvantage. These are the unseen consequences of Ex-Im's mission.

    Source: Congressional vote 15-S0995 on Oct 19, 2015

    $25B more loans from Export-Import Bank.

    Shaheen sponsored H.R.1031 & S.824

    This bill raises the cap on outstanding loans, guarantees, and insurance of the Export-Import Bank of the United States for FY2015-FY2022 and afterwards. The Bank shall:

    Opponents reasons for voting NAY: (Washington Examiner, 12/2/12): The Export-Import Bank is a taxpayer-backed agency that finances U.S. exports, primarily though loan guarantees. You'd think the bank would spread the money around to nurture up-and-coming businesses. You'd be wrong, very wrong. In fact, 83% of its taxpayer-backed loan guarantees in 2012 went to just one exporter: Boeing. Welcome to the "New Economic Patriotism," where the big get bigger and taxpayers bear the risk. Ex-Im is at the heart of Obama's National Export Initiative and is a pillar of the economic patriotism that Obama pledged in a second term. When government hands out more money, the guys with the best lobbyists and the closest ties to power will disproportionately get their hands on that money. Obama has spent four years pushing more subsidies, more bailouts and more regulations. "New Economic Patriotism" basically amounts to a national industrial policy -- Washington championing certain major domestic companies and industries, as if the global economy were an Olympic competition.

    Source: Promoting U.S. Jobs Through Exports Act 15-S824 on Mar 19, 2015

    Implement USMCA for improved North American trade.

    Shaheen voted YEA USMCA Implementation Act

    Summary from Congressional Record and Wikipedia:Vote to amend the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and establish the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Rather than a wholly new agreement, it has been characterized as "NAFTA 2.0"; final terms were negotiated on September 30, 2018 by each country. The agreement is scheduled to come into effect on July 1, 2020.

    Case for voting YES by Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL); (Dec. 19, 2019)The USMCA includes stronger protections for American workers and enforceable labor standards, as well as environmental protections. It eliminates the Trump Administration's threat that the US could walk away entirely from the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, which would devastate US jobs and our economy.

    Case for voting NO by Jared Huffman (D-CA); (Dec. 19, 2019) Democratic negotiators did a lot to improve Donald Trump's weak trade deal, especially in terms of labor standards and enforcement, but the final deal did not reach the high standard that I had hoped for. The NAFTA renegotiations were a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lift labor and environmental standards across the continent--to lock in serious climate commitments with two of our largest trading partners and dramatically improve labor standards and enforcement to slow the rise of outsourcing.

    Legislative outcome: Bill Passed (Senate) (89-10-1) - Jan. 16, 2020; bill Passed (House) (385-41-5) - Dec. 19, 2019; signed at the G20 Summit simultaneously by President Trump, Mexican President Enrique Nieto, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Nov. 30, 2018

    Source: Congressional vote 19-HR5430 on Dec 19, 2019

    Rated 88% by the USAE, indicating support for trade engagement.

    Shaheen scores 88% 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."

    VoteMatch scoring for the USA*Engage ratings is as follows :

    Source: USA*Engage 2011-2012 ratings on Congress and politicians 2012-USAE on Dec 31, 2012

    More business cooperation between New England & East Canada.

    Shaheen signed the New England Governors' Conference resolution:

    Source: NEG/ECP Resolution 23-7: Economic Cooperation 98-NEGC7 on Jun 9, 1998

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