John Kasich (Trade)
Open New International Markets, but Get Smart About Unfair Trade
When American products and services are accessible around the world American businesses and workers benefit. Trade also enhances global security and stability. It can’t come at the cost of common sense, however. If other countries want access to the American market they should provide access to their markets, and trade violations must be quickly addressed to prevent significant economic damage to businesses and workers.
- The International Trade Commission and other U.S. trade bodies must be reformed to expedite consideration of complaints from companies that are negatively impacted by unfair trade practices.
- America must seek more favorable terms in trade negotiations including better protection against currency manipulation, intellectual property theft and cyber-attacks.
Strengthen Trade Promotion & Expedite Trade Violation Enforcement
The Department’s International Trade Administration ineffectively brings together trade promotion, trade agreement enforcement, and data collection and analysis functions that are not natural fits.
- Expanding Markets for American Businesses and Workers: The trade promotion work of the Commercial Service and Global Markets division would function better in the State Department, especially since the overseas offices are usually located in embassies where they work closely with the State Department’s economic officers. Many of these functions would be augmented by coordination with U.S. Trade Representative.
- Enforcing Trade Agreements: Trade enforcement and compliance work, as well as industry analysis functions, are better suited at the International Trade Commission, an independent agency that already responds to trade violations. Aligning these functions more directly will help speed up responses to trade violations to better protect American workers.
- Improve Protection of Sensitive Technology: The Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security regulates exports of sensitive technologies to prevent them from being used against America by unfriendly nations or terror groups. Combining these national security and international engagement function is better suited at the State Department, which already coordinates closely with the Bureau on its work.
"TPP, it's critical to us, not only for economic reasons and for jobs, because there are so many people who are connected to getting jobs because of trade, but it allows us to create not only economy alliances, but also potentially strategic alliances against the Chinese. They are not our enemy, but they are certainly not our friend." (Onetheissues)
