Political Quotes

“when we consider, as we just spoke of, a combined trade deficit increasing by 400 percent over a 3-year period with respect to Canada and Mexico, and now when we consider China, the United States trade deficit with China has grown at a faster rate than that of any other major United States trading partner. The level of imports from China more than doubled between 1992 and 1996, and the United States trade deficit at this point is about $40 billion. That was in 1996, and of course China is the fourth largest supplier of United States imports. So what are we taking in from China? I think most people would remember they are toys and games, footwear, clothing and apparel, and telecommunications equipment. That is what we are bringing from China to the United States, and all of those industries, which were very good industries in this country at one time, have been greatly affected. The people who worked the jobs manufacturing those goods have had to go to other areas where, as the gentleman from Michigan points out very correctly, if they are working at all they are working for a greatly reduced wage. Now get this: What are we sending to China? Because people will say our exports have increased. Sure. Here is what we are exporting. We are exporting aircraft plants and equipment. Aircraft is one of our three major industrial legs that this country stands on. It is like a tripod. We have aircraft, steel and automotive.”