Free Trade Benefits Everyone

The solution to restoring America’s entrepreneurial spirit is to allow markets to freely trade with each other so that jobs can be created here and abroad. A recent Pew survey among U.S. consumers found that support for free trade rose from 36 percent to 44 percent, but the lack of interest shown by Congress on trade issues indicates that they are not in touch with their constituents.

 

The global reality is that free trade amongst countries rarely exists. Where free trade does exist is interstate commerce between our 50 states, where it has fueled our domestic economy.

 

We should therefore examine free trade at its purist. Why not have our Free Trade Agreements resemble the kind of trade that exists amongst the states?  The U.S. Constitution forbids tariffs amongst states on any kind of product or service. All 50 states are under the same federal laws controlling banking, the environment, labor rights, safety standards and copyright and patent protection.  All 50 states use the same currency, not subject to manipulation or devaluation. All 50 states are ultimately answerable to the Supreme Court.

 

Adopting these same standards would eliminate tariffs on manufactured and agricultural products and open up service markets and government procurement. Labor rights, safety standards, environmental protection, intellectual properties, and due process would all be protected and regulated. In short, the playing field would be leveled.  They must be pursued vigorously and immediately.

 

Here are some steps we should take immediately to create jobs and level the playing field for trade:

• Enforce Trade Agreements – especially NAFTA
• Pass the Colombia, South Korean and Panama Free Trade Agreements
• Depoliticize the Trade Promotion Authority so they can create more U.S. jobs
• Foster Development through Trade and Aid, even among unpopular nations
• Help Small Businesses to Export by creating access to capital and removing trade barriers
• Create the department of Global Trade and Industry which would have control over all trade policies within a single department
• Convince Unions that free trade creates more American jobs, not less
• Protect Intellectual Property
• Welcome Investment from Abroad

Sep 2, 2010 BRIEF (The Palm Beach Post) ...-- RIVIERA BEACH -- The company run by Port of Palm Beach Commissioner Ed Oppel will set sail from the port headquarters building, after failing to convince Oppel's colleagues to approve a rent cut. Port executive director Manuel Almira said Empire International Trading's president informed...    more...  

Sep 2, 2010 The Miami Herald The Oppenheimer Report column (The Miami Herald) Our exports to Latin America are growing faster than our exports to other parts of the world." And that's likely to continue, Sanchez said.    more...  

Sep 1, 2010 Support trade pact, Korea urges (The News Tribune) Kia Motors Corp., have significant operations. Hyundai containerships call at the port, and Kia imports autos through the port. John Gillie: 253-597-8663 john.gillie@thenewstribune.com Korea trade facts Korea trade through the Port of Tacoma: $2.49 billion. Korea's ranking as a port...    more...  

Aug 31, 2010 Maine long shot hopes to catch wave (Politico) Jonathan Allen AUGUSTA, Maine — Jason Levesque hopes a lot of Mainers in the expansive 2nd District are, like himself, former supporters of Rep. Levesque offers no evidence, other than generic encouragement, that he sees help on the horizon from national Republicans in a year in which the House...    more...  

Aug 31, 2010 Port wrestles with possibility of evicting a commissioner's company (The Palm Beach Post) M. Valdes Aug. 28, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Port of Palm Beach officials may lose one of their own as a tenant on Tuesday, after a trading company run by Port of Palm Beach Commissioner Ed Oppel failed to win a rent break. With the lease set to expire Aug....    more...  

Aug 31, 2010 Kaptur, 2 foes spar in forum (The Blade) Iott, whose views he acknowledged sounded similar to his own. Mr. I didn't have a rich father," Miss Kaptur said. Mr. Iott said. "It's helped the country overall in many ways." Mr.    more...  

Aug 30, 2010 Campaign Ad Watch (The Columbus Dispatch) Ted Strickland voted against NAFTA and against the special trade deal for China. John Kasich voted for them, and for over 20 more trade bills that hurt Ohio workers. "Kasich's trade deals cost Ohio thousands of jobs. Although some trade deals involving China and Mexico have been controversial,...    more...  

Aug 28, 2010 It's time for more U.S. companies to stretch globally (Washington Post) Trade is nowhere near its peak: In July 2008, when exports were $165 billion and imports were $232 billion, the monthly total was nearly $400 billion. But over the course of 2010, as the rate of economic growth has slowed, trade has gained momentum. Americans are paying down debt, saving more and...    more...  

Aug 26, 2010 Imports drag down growth (Washington Post) U.S. oil imports are up and businesses are restocking their shelves with consumer goods - signs of recovery.    more...  

Aug 25, 2010 Lift embargo on Cuba? Not so fast (The Boston Globe) Aug. 25, 2010 (The Boston Globe delivered by Newstex) -- IS IT time to unplug the American embargo against Cuba? The US embargo, after all, doesn't stop Cuba from trading with any other country in the world. The travel ban and embargo have not ended Cuba's misery, but lifting them unilaterally...    more...  

Aug 24, 2010 Feingold targeting Ron Johnson (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Johnson's campaign added Monday that Johnson "has confidence in the workers and businesses in Wisconsin. The ad features several people who praise Feingold for his stand against big corporations and banks.    more...  

Aug 23, 2010 Bush Ties Disputed as Crucial in Ohio Senate Race (New York Times) Portman’s stint as his party’s Congressional liaison to President George W. Bush. Portman, who is also a former House member, moving ahead of Mr. Portman was a natural fit with the younger Mr.    more...  

Aug 23, 2010 Iran's hard-liners are skirting sanctions (Los Angeles Times) Additional costs are passed on to the buyer, said Vakil and other Iranian businesspeople.Well-connected companies are even finding ways to profit directly from the sanctions. Businesspeople say a sanctions-breaking industry is emerging, with firms specializing in helping others overcome the...    more...  

Aug 23, 2010 Appointments (Washington Post) Fairmont Hotel of the District named Suzanne Dawson group sales manager and Sherian Boyd-Patterson director of business travel sales. Tantus Technologies of the District named Ahmed Chowdhury director of operations and finance. Howard Consulting Group of the District named Dan Ronayne vice...    more...  

Aug 23, 2010 HSBC in Talks to Buy Stake in South African Bank (New York Times) Packard said in the research note.Old Mutual, the largest insurer in Africa, has been selling off business units as it seeks to pay down its debt.    more...  

Aug 23, 2010 South Korea free trade pact back on U.S. agenda (Washington Post) He was South Korean Ambassador Han Duk-soo, who has assumed the unusual role of a foreign official promoting U.S. jobs. Heightened U.S. trade with Asia would be part of that.But Seoul is just waiting for the United States. South Korea is negotiating trade pacts with the European Union and others.    more...  

Aug 22, 2010 OPINION (Akron Beacon Journal) Hard to believe this famous public penny-pincher would have opted for the much higher bids of Ohio firms. For years, he has joined Democratic colleagues in blasting "job-killing" trade agreements, hurling harsh words at Republicans for encouraging the outsourcing of jobs. No question, trade...    more...  

Aug 21, 2010 Op-Ed Contributor: Will China's Wealth Bring Global Ambitions? (New York Times) China’s decadent emperors were immured behind the Great Wall and inside the Forbidden City. So Niall Ferguson may also be mistaken when he dismisses as hopelessly unrealistic the view of Adam Smith and his disciples that peace promotes prosperity, and vice versa, through the operation of free...    more...  

Aug 21, 2010 Northwest wineries take advantage of Hong Kong's open trade door (The Oregonian) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports it as do politicians across the political spectrum. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., for example, has long called for a robust increase in exports. So too has House Minority Leader John Boehner.    more...