Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, President Trump recently told The Economist that he is ``absolutely a free-trader.'' Ohioans would be the first to tell you that free trade and fair trade do not mean the same thing. Our trade deficit ballooned to $43.7 billion in March of this year-- more red ink and more lost jobs. That skewed gap is even more pronounced with NAFTA nations, where we have a huge negative imbalance, totaling over $16 billion with Mexico and nearly $7 billion with Canada. That yields over 115,000 more forfeited jobs in our country. Yes, trade deficits translate into lost jobs and lower wages for our workers like steelworkers that have been battered in Lorain, Ohio. We must stop these trade practices that snuff out our jobs and hurt our communities. That is why tomorrow I will be reintroducing the Balancing Trade Act. This bill requires an actual U.S. policy that takes the trade deficit seriously. It provides real achievable steps to balance our trade deficits with countries with which we hold a deficit of over $10 billion for three consecutive years. I urge President Trump to support this measure as a reasonable step forward. Let us help heal heartland communities, many of which elected him. Let us seek trade solutions that lift up our people and create new jobs on all sides of North America's borders, but starting here in the good old USA. ____________________”