Republican Presidential Candidates’ Views on U.S. Trade Policy

The remaining Republican candidates in this year’s presidential campaign have limited their public discussion of their views on U.S. trade policy. However, based on information gathered from press reports, the candidates’ Web sites and a Brookings Institution report, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee generally support free trade but seem willing to limit it or make policy changes to compensate for any possible negative effects it may have on U.S. industries and workers.

Due to his service in the Senate, McCain has the most comprehensive record on trade policy. He supports free trade and open markets and views globalization as an opportunity that the U.S. should capitalize on in several ways. For example, he has voted for trade promotion authority, NAFTA and permanent normal trade relations with China. He also supports the recently negotiated free trade agreements with South Korea, Peru and Colombia. McCain has stated that as president he will “aggressively promote” trade liberalization at the WTO. With respect to China, while others have expressed concern over Beijing’s currency policies, McCain cautions against responding in a way that would trouble the U.S.-China relationship. And although he is a supporter of free trade, McCain also backs particular policies that would assist domestic industries that may be harmed by it. For example, he has supported the expansion of unemployment insurance and training programs as well as the possibility of a wage insurance provision under the Trade Adjustment Assistance legislation.

Huckabee also believes in free trade – his stated support for NAFTA being one example – but he has emphasized that free trade must be “fair trade.” Specifically, he speaks to his concern over free trade’s possible domestic impact, including the movement of jobs and industries overseas. Huckabee has also said that action should be taken to address China’s alleged manipulation of the value of its currency, which he feels is done to artificially lower the prices of Chinese exports. Huckabee would also support tax cuts to assuage the negative effects of globalization, an Inside US Trade article notes, and in fact has stated that he would revamp the U.S. tax structure to better enable the U.S. to compete in a globalized world.