2020 Conventions: on Free Trade


Joe Biden: Won't be at the mercy of other countries to protect our own

Biden has been trying to fortify his message on China, and suggested he would pursue the kind of "decoupling" being pushed by leading Republicans. "We'll make the medical supplies and protective equipment that our country needs," he said, while discussing the pandemic. "We'll make them here in America so we will never again be at the mercy of China or other foreign countries in order to protect our own people."
Source: D.Brennan/Newsweek on 2020 Democratic National Convention Aug 21, 2020

Socialist Party: Support global transformation from capitalism to socialism

The Socialist Party stands for a fundamental transformation of the economy, focusing on production for need not profit. So-called fair trade is meaningless as long as the world economy is dominated by a few massive corporations. Only a global transformation from capitalism to socialism will provide the conditions for international peace, justice, and economic cooperation based on the large-scale transfer of resources and technology from the developed to the developing countries.
Source: Socialist Party Platform at 2020-2021 PSL Convention Aug 3, 2020

Democratic Party: Pursue a trade policy that puts workers first

Democrats will pursue a trade policy that puts workers first. We will negotiate strong and enforceable standards for labor, human rights, and the environment in the core text of our trade deals. Future trade agreements should build on the pro-labor provisions added to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by Democratic members of Congress. If companies shut down their operations here and outsource jobs, we'll claw back any public investments or benefits they received from taxpayers.
Source: Democratic Party Platform adopted at 2020 Convention Jul 27, 2020

Democratic Party: Work with allies to stand up to China

Democrats believe that if the United States does not work with its allies and partners to shape the terms of global trade, China will shape them for us--and American working families and the middle class will pay the price. That's why we will work with our allies to mobilize more than half the world's economy to stand up to China and negotiate from the strongest possible position.
Source: Democratic Party Platform adopted at 2020 Convention Jul 27, 2020

Reform Party: American citizens' economic security takes priority

We recognize current trade policies have failed and resulted in the export of our manufacturing job base which sustains America's middle class. The Reform Party calls for the repeal or revision of current trade agreements. America's elected leaders have a primary responsibility to assure that American citizens' economic security takes priority in any trade policy decision.
Source: Reform Party Platform at 2020 Convention; ReformParty.org Jun 22, 2020

  • The above quotations are from 2020 Democratic and Republican Conventions.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Free Trade.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Donald Trump on Free Trade.
  • Click here for more quotes by Joe Biden on Free Trade.
2020 Presidential contenders on Free Trade:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Sep 07, 2020