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"Debate Draws Distinctions in Candidates' Trade Policies"
By Paul Blustein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 9, 2004; Page E01
"The differences between President Bush and Democratic challenger John F. Kerryover trade policy have been relatively muted, at least compared with hot-button topics such as tax cuts and Iraq. But that didn't stop the two protagonists at a "Bush-Kerry trade debate" yesterday from underscoring distinctions between their candidates on issues that included outsourcing, Chinese currency policy and a proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement.
Clayton Yeutter, a former U.S. trade representative who served as unofficial surrogate for Bush, took a strongly free-trade stance. He was particularly outspoken on outsourcing, asserting that the shift of service jobs overseas "makes genuine sense as any economist knows," because it increases efficiency and productivity.
Lael Brainard, a Kerry trade adviser who represented the Democratic candidate, attacked such arguments as insensitive to the interests of U.S. workers -- though in keeping with Kerry's position, the changes in trade policy she urged were far from radical. Highlighting Kerry's proposal to change tax laws so U.S. companies have less incentive to move operations abroad, Brainard said, "John Kerry doesn't want to end outsourcing. But he does want to end the kind of outsourcing that results from distortions in the tax code."
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"Survey Shows Public Support for Trade Expansion"
By Bruce Stokes
From Congress Daily, October 26, 2001
Even as Congress rushes to consider legislation renewing presidential trade negotiating authority, four out of five Americans say they know little or nothing about the issue, according to a national poll commissioned by the Association of Women in International Trade. That poll was conducted among 850 U.S. adults Oct. 7-11 and released today by EPIC/MRA, a Lansing, Mich.-based polling firm. However, once trade authority, formerly known as fast track, was explained to the survey respondents, 46 percent said they would support it, while 37 percent said they opposed it and 17 percent were undecided. The poll has a 3.5 point error margin. The approval rate is exactly the same proportion of supporters found in a Pew Research Center poll conducted in September.
Overall support for trade and economic globalization remains strong. More than half - 57 percent - of those questioned nationwide said they approved of free trade agreements, with the strongest support in Western states - 69 percent, and the strongest disapproval in the Midwest - 29 percent. As was the case in past such surveys, free trade support generally grows with age, income and education. More than half of union members - 54 percent - said they also approved of free trade deals. More broadly, 48 percent said they think globalization has a positive impact on society. In September, the Pew poll found 60 percent thought globalization was a good thing. One sign of the appeal of anti- globalization sentiments among the young is that disapproval of free trade agreements was highest - 30 percent - among generation X, those born after1960. Back-handed support for the North American Free Trade Agreement continued to grow. Barely half those questioned - 51 percent - think the United States should change or pull out of the trade deal with Canada and Mexico, compared with 63 percent who felt that way in 1998.
As the economy has turned sour, there has been a slight growth in protectionist sentiments, but the public seems unwilling to put their money where their mouth is. One out of two people questioned thought protecting certain companies from foreign competition was a good idea. But the amount of money they were willing to spend out of their family budgets to pay for higher-priced domestic goods actually declined to only $29.80 per month, down 38 percent since 1998.
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