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Mike Gravel on Trade and Economics

Globalization has become a reality that has challenged traditional economies all over the world. Increased trade and agreements between nations have raised debate in the United States about what is the right balance between global exchange and protectionism. This topic includes information about candidate positions on: free trade and free trade agreements, farm subsidies, unionization, an increase in the federal minimum wage, and trade relations with China.

The issues

Mike Gravel strongly opposes unrestricted free trade

Gravel has called NAFTA "a disaster for the working class of both the U.S. and Mexico" and has said that it should be either changed significantly or repealed altogether. Gravel has called for an increased focus on fair trade "if we are to rebuild the American middle class."

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Q: "If you agree outsourcing is a problem, what is your solution?" GRAVEL: "Outsourcing is not the problem. What the problem is is our trade agreements that benefit the management and the shareholders and has neglected on either side of the issue, whether its in Mexico or in other countries than the United States, that's the problem that must be addressed."

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Mike Gravel strongly supports an increase in the federal minimum wage

"We don't need a minimum wage, we need to have a living wage."

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Mike Gravel supports normal diplomatic and trade relations with China

Six months before Henry Kissinger's secret mission to the People's Republic of China (PRC), Senator Gravel introduced unpopular legislation to recognize and normalize relations with the PRC, in the hope of bringing about a re-examination of our outdated policy towards the Chinese people.

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