OPINION:
Recently, John McCain delivered a speech in Ottawa,Canada to the Economic Club of Toronto on the benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA, which came into effect in 1994, was implemented to reduce tariffs between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. The address reinforced Mr. McCain’s commitment to uphold the trade agreement. Mr. McCain is wisely presenting himself as a staunch free trader and the guardian of the existing relationship between the United States and America’s largest trading partner.
Mr. McCain asserted in his speech that America’s ties with Canada are “more vital than ever.” He summarized the areas in which the two nations are working in harmony: Canada partners with America by keeping borders safe from terrorists, exchanging information and manpower to prepare for emergencies, resisting nuclear proliferation, providing troops and funds to Afghanistan, and supplying generous financial assistance to Iraq. The Arizona senator also celebrated the results of NAFTA: “Since the agreement was signed, the United States has added 25 million jobs and Canada more than 4 million.” He declared that his administration would not demand “unilateral changes” or retreat behind “protectionist walls.” He would honor America’s “international obligations” and find ways to “strengthen and extend the open and rules-based international trading system.”
Mr. McCain is in tune with America’s traditional role as a global leader in free markets. His vision of a muscular economy that has a robust, dynamic and competitive workforce is in line with the American capitalist ethos. Mr. McCain has a voting record as an ardent champion of tearing down tariffs throughout the Americas: In 1993, he voted in favor of NAFTA; in 2002, he voted to extend trade privileges on specific products to Colombia, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador; in 2003, he voted in favor of establishing trade between the United States and Chile; in 2005, he voted for CAFTA, which extends free trade to Central America. Mr. McCain has also voted in favor of free trade with other nations around the world such as Oman, Australia, Chile and Singapore. He has supported expanding trade to Africa and to the Middle East. He is also in favor of the pending free trade agreements with Colombia and South Korea.
Mr. McCain’s pro-NAFTA position is consistent with his firm conviction that protectionist policies do not work. He has stated that American workers and products can compete “with anybody in any market in the world.” Indeed, NAFTA’s overall results are extraordinary: Trade between the United States, Mexico and Canada has tripled since NAFTA’s inception; more than one-third of U.S. trade is now with Canada and Mexico. In being a champion of free trade, Mr. McCain is marching on the right side of history.
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