FREE TRADE
Free trade is a vital policy necessary for maximizing economic growth. In recent decades, America’s commitment to expanding trade has resulted in lower costs for consumers, job growth, and higher levels of productivity and innovation.
Some of Santorum’s most anti-growth votes have come on trade issues. Before assessing his votes against free trade, it should be noted that he has cast several pro-trade votes, including:
•Voted YES on the Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
•Voted YES on CAFTA
•Voted YES on the Morocco FTA
•Voted YES on the Australia FTA
•Voted YES on the Chile FTA
•Voted YES on the Singapore FTA
•Voted YES to Trade Promotion Authority
•Voted YES to extend normal trade relations with China
But beyond those pro-trade actions, Santorum has some real duds.
In perhaps the most important free trade vote of the last generation, Santorum voted against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993, perhaps the most important trade vote cast during his career in Congress. Days before the vote, he said, “NAFTA will produce pockets of winners and losers across the country. Our area is unfortunately one of the losers.” That analysis, while arguably correct with regard to a small number of industries in Pennsylvania, ignores the fact that every single consumer in Pennsylvania benefited tremendously from NAFTA, as well as did many more affected industries.
As a member of the Senate Steel Caucus , Santorum voted for and co-sponsored a bill to slap tariffs on imported steel in 1999.
In 2005, Santorum voted in support of an amendment that would impose a massive, job-killing 27.5% tariff on all Chinese imports if China didn’t readjust their currency upward.
In 1997, Santorum sponsored a proposal that would impose a one-cent tax on imported honey with the proceeds going to the National Honey Board to aid in their research, a special interest giveaway.
In 2005, Santorum voted in support of an amendment that would impose a massive, job-killing 27.5% tariff on all Chinese imports if China didn’t readjust their currency upward.
That's good . That's a start. China needs to be stopped. China has destroyed the U.S. We have no jobs in the U.S. they and factories have been offshored. America first not last ok? The U.S is dying because of a mountain of Obama debt , illegals, welfare dependents, de-industrialization, and big government.
The international socialists want “free” trade to destroy the U.S. border and sovereignty.
Are you for NAFTA and trade with communist China?
The U.S. was the greatest , most highly advanced country ever, with the highest living standards . And now in a few decades the U.S. is on the verge of collapse under a mountain of Obama debt, has lost millions of jobs to China, has lost its manufacturing ability, cannot even manufacture notebook computers, cell phones, nor the Kindle, and a slew of high tech products.:http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2011/08/17/why-amazon-cant-make-a-kindle-in-the-usa/