Both McCain and Obama say they are in favor of free trade. McCain has been a stronger defender of free trade agreements, while Obama has been a more vocal critic.
· Back additional trade agreements and engage in multilateral, regional and bilateral efforts to reduce barriers to trade.
· Supports the free trade agreements negotiated with South Korea and Colombia which are now awaiting Senate approval.
· Would not threaten to impose tariffs on Chinese imports here if China does not allow the value of its currency, the yuan, to rise against the dollar.
· Improve efforts to provide retraining for those who lose their jobs due to imports.
"If I am elected president, this country will honor its international agreements, including NAFTA, and we will expect the same of others. And in a time of uncertainty for American workers, we will not undo the gains of years in trade agreements now awaiting final approval." -- McCain*
· Supports the free trade agreements negotiated with South Korea and Colombia which are now awaiting Senate approval.
· Would not threaten to impose tariffs on Chinese imports here if China does not allow the value of its currency, the yuan, to rise against the dollar.
· Improve efforts to provide retraining for those who lose their jobs due to imports.
"If I am elected president, this country will honor its international agreements, including NAFTA, and we will expect the same of others. And in a time of uncertainty for American workers, we will not undo the gains of years in trade agreements now awaiting final approval." -- McCain*
· Work to renegotiate NAFTA, the free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.
· Opposes the free trade agreements with South Korea and Colombia.
· Use trade agreements to spread good labor and environmental standards around the world.
· Supports steep tariffs on imports from China if the Chinese keep their currency from rising.
· Increase and expand assistance offered to workers who lose jobs due to trade and create flexible education accounts to help workers retrain.
"Allowing subsidized and unfairly traded products to flood our markets is not free trade and it's not fair. We cannot let foreign regulatory policies exclude American products. We cannot let enforcement of existing trade agreements take a backseat to the negotiation of new ones." -- Obama**
· Opposes the free trade agreements with South Korea and Colombia.
· Use trade agreements to spread good labor and environmental standards around the world.
· Supports steep tariffs on imports from China if the Chinese keep their currency from rising.
· Increase and expand assistance offered to workers who lose jobs due to trade and create flexible education accounts to help workers retrain.
"Allowing subsidized and unfairly traded products to flood our markets is not free trade and it's not fair. We cannot let foreign regulatory policies exclude American products. We cannot let enforcement of existing trade agreements take a backseat to the negotiation of new ones." -- Obama**
NEXT: Budget Deficit
Last updated October 29 2008: 12:15 PM ET
Source:
*June 10, 2008, Speech, Washington, D.C.
**June 16, 2008, Speech, Flint, Mich.
*June 10, 2008, Speech, Washington, D.C.
**June 16, 2008, Speech, Flint, Mich.