Byron Dorgan: “Finally, I say, finally we have a President who is willing to exhibit a bit of leadership in international trade. We…”

“Finally, I say, finally we have a President who is willing to exhibit a bit of leadership in international trade. We have had, year after year after year, trade actions by Japan and others that are fundamentally unfair to American producers, drive up enormous trade deficits in this country without anybody willing to stand up and say, ``That's unfair to us.'' Uncle Sam ought to stop getting kicked around in international markets. We ought not expect any special favors at any time, but neither should we accept unfair trade. When other countries decide they want to accept the opportunity in our market to send all their goods to us, then we ought to say one simple thing of them: We have a requirement of you to open up your market to our producers just as generously as we open up the American market to yours. That ought to be the standard for trade: Reciprocal trade and fair trade. Finally, we have a President who is willing to stand up to Japan and others--good friends, allies, trading partners, yes--but to stand up and say we expect more from you, we expect your markets to be open to American businesses and American workers, and we expect to get our goods into your markets just as you flood our markets with your goods.”