Political Quotes

“Mr. President, a few moments ago, we heard an argument that this envisioned trade agreement will increase the number of products that are stamped ``Made in America,'' ``Made in the United States of America.'' Certainly that is the argument that has been put forward for trade agreement after trade agreement after trade agreement. The first step in the process is to say: Look at those markets. Wouldn't it be wonderful in that nation if we had direct access, improved access? Particularly, we have done a series of agreements with very low-wage, low-environmental standards, low-enforcement nations. Well, that is the first stage. Then the second stage becomes: Now that we have this broader connection, we are competing with products made in that country, so we better make sure we open a factory there as well. And then suddenly, instead of those products coming from the United States to a foreign nation, in fact, those products are being made in that foreign nation. Then comes stage three: Oh, now that we are making those products overseas at a much lower price because of the lower wages and lower environmental standards and lower enforcement, it does not make sense to make those products in the United States anymore. So that is how we lost 5 million manufacturing jobs in America. That is how we lost 50,000 factories in America.…”