Page 23 - SCBJ-201512
P. 23
December 2015
Jeb Bush
Bush has been the Republican standard bearer on the TPP and the issue of free trade in general. In an
April op-ed, Bush acknowledged the risks associated with supporting the agreement in the current political
environment dominated by anti-Washington and anti-big business rhetoric, but echoed his support on
economic and geopolitical grounds. During a recent GOP debate on November 10th, Bush highlighted TPP,
alongside the Keystone XL pipeline, as two initiatives critical to creating “sustained economic growth.”
Ben Carson
Though he initially opposed the TPP over executive overreach concerns
with TPA, Carson has since come out publicly in support of the
agreement. According to campaign spokesman Doug Watts, Carson
“believes the agreement does help to level the playing field in key markets
and is important to improve our ties to trading partners in Asia as a
counterbalance to China’s influence in the region”. Caron’s support for the
agreement is interesting as it aligns him more with the 2 establishment wing
of the GOP. To date, Carson, like Trump, has largely built his
candidacy around his anti-Washington, outsider status.
Ted Cruz
Cruz initially
supported
TPA legislation,
per an April
S 21 WSJ op-ed co-
authored along with now
N Ways & Means Chairman Paul
Ryan (R-WI), before voting against
Ait in June. He has since doubled down on
his opposition to the TPP in a move likely calculated
LICto appeal to the conservative base of the Republican Party, his core constituency.
During a recent campaign rally in Iowa, a crucial state in his overall campaign strategy,
Cruz outlined his opposition to TPP stating, “I believe we can negotiate a much better
agreement with a strong conservative president than we have with Barack Obama”.
BMarco Rubio
U Serving on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio has been
P active in developing and promoting U.S. policy in the Asia Pacific
with a particular emphasis on China. Rubio supported passage of
E TPA legislation and has repeated his support for the Trans-Pacific
Partnership though a campaign spokesman
R recently stated that the presidential candidate “has
ote not decided whether to support the TPP legislation”.
Donald Trump
The current GOP front-runner, Trump is firmly opposed to the TPP labeling it “a horrible deal.” Trump’s
opposition aligns with his campaign’s overall populist message that has been effective in channeling voter
frustration with Washington. Among other issues, Trump has argued that the agreement does little to address
factors leading to trade imbalances with countries like China (though China is not party to TPP) and the
continued off-shoring of U.S. jobs. During the November 10th GOP debate, he stated, “It was a deal designed for
China to come in, as they always do, through the back door and totally take advantage of everyone”.
21
Jeb Bush
Bush has been the Republican standard bearer on the TPP and the issue of free trade in general. In an
April op-ed, Bush acknowledged the risks associated with supporting the agreement in the current political
environment dominated by anti-Washington and anti-big business rhetoric, but echoed his support on
economic and geopolitical grounds. During a recent GOP debate on November 10th, Bush highlighted TPP,
alongside the Keystone XL pipeline, as two initiatives critical to creating “sustained economic growth.”
Ben Carson
Though he initially opposed the TPP over executive overreach concerns
with TPA, Carson has since come out publicly in support of the
agreement. According to campaign spokesman Doug Watts, Carson
“believes the agreement does help to level the playing field in key markets
and is important to improve our ties to trading partners in Asia as a
counterbalance to China’s influence in the region”. Caron’s support for the
agreement is interesting as it aligns him more with the 2 establishment wing
of the GOP. To date, Carson, like Trump, has largely built his
candidacy around his anti-Washington, outsider status.
Ted Cruz
Cruz initially
supported
TPA legislation,
per an April
S 21 WSJ op-ed co-
authored along with now
N Ways & Means Chairman Paul
Ryan (R-WI), before voting against
Ait in June. He has since doubled down on
his opposition to the TPP in a move likely calculated
LICto appeal to the conservative base of the Republican Party, his core constituency.
During a recent campaign rally in Iowa, a crucial state in his overall campaign strategy,
Cruz outlined his opposition to TPP stating, “I believe we can negotiate a much better
agreement with a strong conservative president than we have with Barack Obama”.
BMarco Rubio
U Serving on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio has been
P active in developing and promoting U.S. policy in the Asia Pacific
with a particular emphasis on China. Rubio supported passage of
E TPA legislation and has repeated his support for the Trans-Pacific
Partnership though a campaign spokesman
R recently stated that the presidential candidate “has
ote not decided whether to support the TPP legislation”.
Donald Trump
The current GOP front-runner, Trump is firmly opposed to the TPP labeling it “a horrible deal.” Trump’s
opposition aligns with his campaign’s overall populist message that has been effective in channeling voter
frustration with Washington. Among other issues, Trump has argued that the agreement does little to address
factors leading to trade imbalances with countries like China (though China is not party to TPP) and the
continued off-shoring of U.S. jobs. During the November 10th GOP debate, he stated, “It was a deal designed for
China to come in, as they always do, through the back door and totally take advantage of everyone”.
21
