战略与国际研究中心-Trade-Policy-on-the-2020-Trail--The-Second-Debate_5页_1mb

Trade Policy on the 2020 Trail: Summary

Core Content

The document analyzes the trade policies of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates during the second round of debates, highlighting the key themes, positions, and emerging trends in their approaches to trade. It emphasizes the growing divide between moderate and progressive candidates, the critique of President Trump's trade policies, and the need for a new economic strategy that supports U.S. workers and aligns with 21st-century goals.

Main Trends and Positions

1. Critique of Trump's Trade Policy

• General Consensus: Most Democratic candidates criticized President Trump's trade policy as destructive and unconstructive.
• Impact on Workers: Many pointed out that Trump's tariffs and trade wars have increased costs for American families and harmed industries like manufacturing and agriculture.
• China Focus: There was a common emphasis on the need to counter China's trade practices and ensure U.S. leadership in setting global trade rules.

2. Divide Between Moderate and Progressive Candidates

• Moderate Candidates (e.g., Joe Biden, John Delaney): Advocated for rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which they viewed as a strategic move to maintain U.S. influence in the Asia-Pacific and support American exporters.
• Progressive Candidates (e.g., Elizabeth Warren, Tulsi Gabbard): Pushed for a more comprehensive approach that includes labor and environmental protections, and criticized the USMCA as a "bad deal" due to its perceived favoring of multinational corporations.

3. Reorientation of the Economy

• Need for Investment: A significant number of candidates acknowledged that trade policy alone cannot solve workforce issues and that renewed investment in the U.S. workforce is essential.
• Focus on Retraining: Several candidates, including Pete Buttigieg and Michael Bennet, emphasized the importance of retraining programs to adapt to a changing economy.
• Climate and Clean Energy: Jay Inslee highlighted the potential of U.S. clean energy exports and the need for trade policies that support the global transition to clean energy.

Key Policies and Proposals

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

• Support from Moderates: Biden and Delaney supported rejoining the TPP, which was seen as a way to influence trade rules in the Asia-Pacific and provide preferential access to 40% of the global economy.
• Progressive Critique: Warren and Gabbard were more critical of the TPP, arguing that it did not go far enough in protecting workers and the environment.

United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)

• Criticism: Most candidates, including Warren and Gillibrand, criticized the USMCA for favoring multinational corporations, particularly in drug exclusivity provisions.
• Biden's Position: Biden expressed opposition to the USMCA as written but supported changes proposed by House Democrats, indicating a willingness to adapt the agreement.

Workforce and Economic Investment

• Retraining and Investment: Candidates like Buttigieg and Bennet stressed the need for retraining and investment in the U.S. economy to prepare workers for future challenges.
• Protection of Workers: Warren and Sanders argued that trade policies should protect American workers and not allow corporations to outsource jobs to low-wage countries.

Trade and Climate

• Inslee's Plan: Inslee's trade strategy is closely tied to climate change, focusing on clean energy exports and international cooperation to support sustainable development.
• Global Cooperation: Candidates like Gillibrand and Booker called for aligning trade policies with climate goals and ensuring that trade agreements support environmental and labor standards globally.

Quotes and Key Statements

General Statements

• Kamala Harris: Criticized Trump's trade policy for costing American families billions and betraying them.
• Kirsten Gillibrand: Highlighted the dangers of Trump's trade deals, particularly the USMCA, which she described as a "give away to drug companies in Mexico."
• Joe Biden: Emphasized the need to ensure that U.S. trade deals include environmentalists and labor groups, stating that "either China is going to write the rules of the road for the 21st century on trade or we are."

Protecting U.S. Workers

• Elizabeth Warren: Advocated for making trade partners raise their standards to ensure fair competition.
• Bernie Sanders: Stated that U.S. companies should not receive contracts if they are outsourcing jobs.
• Steve Bullock: Argued that tariffs are not the way to achieve fair trade deals for workers and farmers.

China

• Tim Ryan: Stressed the importance of making electric vehicles in the U.S. and criticized China's dominance in the EV market.
• Tulsi Gabbard: Warned against Trump's volatile and unstrategic approach to China, which she claimed harms domestic manufacturers and farmers.

Trade Agreements & Coalitions

• John Delaney: Supported the TPP for its inclusion of labor and environmental standards and argued that it would have changed the U.S. position in trade with China.
• Cory Booker: Advocated for aligning trade deals with climate goals and ensuring that foreign aid and trade policies address the climate crisis.

Retraining the Workforce

• Pete Buttigieg: Emphasized the need for retraining programs, but noted that this is part of a larger economic transformation.
• Michael Bennet: Stressed the importance of investing in the U.S. economy beyond just trade.

No Debate Quotes on Trade

• Amy Klobuchar, Marianne Williamson, Julián Castro, Andrew Yang, and Jay Inslee: None of these candidates mentioned trade during the debates, indicating a lack of focus or a different approach to the issue.

Conclusion

The document underscores the significant differences in trade policy positions among Democratic candidates, with a clear divide between moderates and progressives. While moderates like Biden and Delaney focus on rejoining the TPP and reforming the USMCA, progressives like Warren and Gabbard advocate for stronger labor and environmental protections. The overall consensus is that trade policy must be reoriented to support U.S. workers and align with 21st-century economic and environmental goals.