Ron Kind: “I believe in trade. I believe trade is important for our country. I believe trade is important for the world. I believe…”

“I believe in trade. I believe trade is important for our country. I believe trade is important for the world. I believe that former Secretary of State Cordell Hull had it just about right when he said that when goods and products cross borders, armies do not. I believe that. But tonight's debate is not about whether we believe in trade or are against trade. Tonight's debate is about what the rules of trade are going to be. The trade negotiations of the 21st century will be less about the reduction of tariffs and quotas and more about the establishment of important standards and what those standards are going to be like, not only in this country but globally. Standards such as worker rights, environmental protection, child labor protections, food safety and the sanctity of our own domestic laws. And the question will be whether or not the harmonization of those standards will move upwards, or whether it will result in a race to the bottom. I believe Presidents need trade promotion authority, but it is more than just words in a document. A large part of it is based on trust and confidence in the delegation of this extraordinary power from the Congress to the executive branch. With all due respect, I wish I had more confidence that the trade policy decisions coming out of this White House was based more on principle rather than politics, because the track record thus far does not inspire that type of confidence.”