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Ron Paul on Trade and Economics
I will also pursue true free trade with low tariffs and less burdensome regulation. However, I reject the "managed trade" approach of the World Trade Organization, North American Free Trade Agreement and Central American Free Trade Agreement."
The WTO has forced Congress to change our laws, yet we still face trade wars. Today, France is threatening to have U.S. goods taxed throughout Europe. If anything, the WTO makes trade relations worse by giving foreign competitors a new way to attack U.S. jobs. NAFTA's superhighway is just one part of a plan to erase the borders between the U.S. and Mexico, called the North American Union. This spawn of powerful special interests, would create a single nation out of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, with a new unelected bureaucracy and money system. Forget about controlling immigration under this scheme. And a free America, with limited, constitutional government, would be gone forever.
Rep. Paul (R-TX), who sits on the House Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology, voted against free trade agreements with Oman, Chile, and Singapore. He was a strong critic of CAFTA, of which he said "I believe in free trade, but this is not free trade. This is regulated, managed trade for the benefit of special interests." In 2005, Paul supported legislation that would have withdrawn U.S. approval for the World Trade Organization. On his campaign website, Paul criticizes the WTO, which, he says, "has forced Congress to change our laws, yet we still face trade wars." He has also been critical of NAFTA, which he says "is just one part of a plan to erase the borders between the U.S. and Mexico."
Voted NO on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade
Bill HR 3045 ; vote number 2005-443 on Jul 28, 2005
Voted NO on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement
Bill H.R.4759 ; vote number 2004-375 on Jul 14, 2004
Voted NO on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement
Bill HR 2739 ; vote number 2003-432 on Jul 24, 2003
Voted NO on implementing free trade agreement with Chile
Bill HR 2738 ; vote number 2003-436 on Jul 24, 2003
"I am for free trade but not the type of system we have today. We do better trading. We cannot solve trade policies without looking at our monetary policy. Only a protectionist for national security concerns. I would get rid of NAFTA and WTO."
He has also been critical of NAFTA, which he says "is just one part of a plan to erase the borders between the U.S. and Mexico."
He voted against a minimum wage increase.
H.R. 4297, 5/10/06; H.R. 2, 1/10/07, Vote #118
Voted no to authorize $167 billion over ten years for farm price supports, food aid and rural development. Payments would be made on a countercyclical program, meaning they would increase as prices dropped. Conservation acreage payments would be retained
HR 2646 ; vote number 2001-371 on Oct 5, 2001
Rep. Paul (R-TX) has called China "one of the most brutal,anti-American regimes in the world."
Paul voted against the U.S.-China Trade Relations Act of 2000
Still, Paul was one of only five representatives to vote against the Political Freedom in China Act of 1997
Paul was also the only member of the House to vote against a 2006 resolution condemning religious persecution in China.