Byron Dorgan: “I want the benefits of international trade to accrue to American citizens, consumers who go to the store and want to buy…”

“I want the benefits of international trade to accrue to American citizens, consumers who go to the store and want to buy the best possible product at the best possible price. There is no question about the doctrine of comparative advantage, in which each country, doing that which it does best and trading with other countries, promotes efficiency. It is not that those of us who oppose fast track do not support free trade. But I want to tell you about the kind of trade I do not support. The most recent agreement that we negotiated in this country was with China. Our negotiators negotiated with the Chinese in this bilateral agreement, and they agreed to the following: After a phase-in period, the United States would impose a 2.5-percent tariff on any automobiles manufactured in China shipped to the United States, and China would impose a 25-percent tariff on any United States automobiles shipped to China. I am wondering, who in this Chamber would think that is a reasonable deal?”