Trade Agreements -- mofb #7

The next section of the Missouri Farm Bureau's Candidate questionniare is

International Trade

1. Please explain your views on multilateral and bilateral free trade negotiations with regard to U.S. farmers and ranchers.

I support truly free trade.

“Free trade” in most “free trade agreements” really means “managed trade.” The new structures of government that are put in place to manage trade are not “bound down by the chains of the Constitution” (to quote Jefferson). They are dangerous.

“Free trade” means the elimination of restrictions on trade, not the creation and enforcement of an entirely new system of trade law. American farmers and ranchers should not be subjected to the regulatory powers of foreign, regional, or global governments.

http://www.StoptheSPP.us/

2. Do you believe environmental and labor issues should be included in trade agreements?

_______ Yes ___X_____ No

Please explain:

I am basically opposed to “trade agreements.” The federal government should do what is right (e.g., abolish uncompetitive tariffs and unconstitutional regulations) regardless of whether foreign countries agree to do the same.

Generally, putting “environmental” and “labor” issues in such agreements is a way to sneak in regulations that could not otherwise be passed due to their unpopularity, and have them enforced by unelected, unrepresentative foreign and regional governments, or to avoid issues that would be passed because of popular demand.

3. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for the President expired on June 30, 2007. Would you support legislation to renew TPA?

_______Yes ____X____ No

Unconstitutional "Trade Promotion Authority"

International Trade

6. Legislation to implement trade promotion agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea are pending in Congress. Do you support:

Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement
________ Yes ___X____ No
Panama Trade Promotion Agreement
_______ Yes ___X____ No
South Korea Free Trade Agreement
_______ Yes ___X____ No

Please explain your answer.

I support truly free trade. These agreements create trade which is not free, but managed by new levels of government. The creation of free trade simply requires the elimination of government barriers to trade. It does not require the creation of more levels of bureaucracy. The United States should practice free trade because it is the ethical and constitutional thing to do, regardless of what corrupt foreign governments choose to do. These agreements are stepping-stones to global government.


7. Would you vote to ratify the Kyoto Global Climate Treaty?

_______ Yes ___X____ No


See also comments on the Farm Bureau Policy Statement:

International Trade




This is one in a series of blog posts answering questions posed to candidates in the 7th District by the Missouri Farm Bureau. Here is the list of mofb blog posts in this series.