Trade and Tariffs

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution states that Congress shall have the power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations." I am in favor of restoring this power to the Congress alone. Therefore, I am against the existence of the Office of Special Trade Representative, NAFTA, CAFTA, GATT, and the WTO. I am against the "fast track" and "Trade Promotion Authority" that has been given to the President. Trade agreements should be considered treaties, and therefore should require a 2/3 vote of the senate to be approved. An agreement should be considered void if they violate the Constitution or if the other party violates its terms. If this is the case, Congress can and should revoke it by a simple majority without consent of the other party.

It should be illegal to import a product into America if the methods by which that product was produced violate American laws. This would include safety standards, child labor laws, health standards, environmental standards, minimum wage and all other labor laws. At the very least, a tariff equal to the difference in cost of production due to less stringent laws should be paid to avoid unfair competition and protect American jobs. Foreign entities operating within the United States must comply with all national, state, and local laws as they apply. American companies or their subsidiaries that operate internationally should be required to comply with these laws and all laws in the country in which they are operating at all of their facilities in that country.

Under no circumstances should there be any subsides or tax exemptions given to corporations for outsourcing American jobs. No subsides or tax exemptions should ever be given to any foreign or multinational cooperation. The government should not insure investments made abroad.

In the area of national security, foreign interests have been abetted in gaining access to America's high-tech secrets under the guise of commercial enterprise. Technology transfers which compromise national security should be made illegal, and I want all violators to be prosecuted. I demand that all weapons systems, military uniforms and equipment purchased for the American military be domestically produced in their entirety along with all their component parts.

I oppose the practice of any officer of the United States government, or spouse thereof, who, subsequent to Federal government employment is employed to represent a foreign government or other foreign entity, public or private, for purposes of influencing public opinion or policy on matters affecting U.S. trade with such foreign government or entity.

Foreign companies whose governments subsidize their exports to the U.S. should pay compensating U.S. taxes on goods imported to the U.S. for sale. Countries conducting any other unfair trade practices must be required to provide compensating benefits to the U.S. on the import of those products.

All products imported into the U.S. should be inspected to ensure that no U.S. laws are being violated. Importers should have to pay fees that would cover the cost of these inspections.