Top six Dems debate trade and more, discuss need to support family farmers - Entrepreneur Generations

Last night at Drake University in Iowa, six Democratic primary candidates met for the last debate before the Iowa caucuses: Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Mayor Pete Buttegieg of South Bend, Ind., and hedge fund manager Tom Steyer. CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Abby Philip, along with the Des Moines Register's chief political reporter Brianne Pfannenstiel, moderated.

Here's a few things the candidates had to say about trade and other issues with rural resonance:

Buttegieg and Warren both noted the need for increased cybersecurity. Municipal governments and utilities, especially in small towns, are increasingly vulnerable to foreign hackers.

Sanders said that the USMCA "will result in the continuation of the loss of hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs as a result of outsourcing" and said our trade negotiators could do "much better" than this deal. Sanders, who noted that he voted against NAFTA and normalized trade relations with China, said the deals force American workers to compete against cheaper labor overseas.

Sanders also threatened consequences to corporations that move their operations overseas: "I am sick and tired and will not tolerate, and we will use the power of the federal contracting system. If a corporation in America wants to shut down in Iowa or Vermont or any place else, and then they think they're going to get on line for our generous federal contract, they've got another thing going."

Warren said she supports the USMCA because it has modest improvements that help farmers who are hurting from the trade war with China. "It will give some relief to our farmers. It will give some relief to our workers. I believe we accept that relief, we try to help the people who need help, and we get up the next day and fight for a better trade deal."

Sanders agreed that family farmers must benefit from trade deals, and said they should be consulted in future negotiations.

Klobuchar said that ethanol and corn interests had been hurt by Trump's trade policies, and noted that she had toured an ethanol plant in Iowa that had shuttered because of oil refinery waivers for the Renewable Fuel Standard. She said she supports the USMCA because it could help those hurt by the trade war.

Buttegieg said that, though the USMCA has been improved by Democrats' input, it's still not perfect. But because it helps those who have been hurt by the trade war, he supports it.

Biden said we must strengthen ties with our allies and strengthen trade relationships in order to limit China's global power.

We will continue updating this item. Click here for a complete transcript of the debate.

from The Rural Blog https://ift.tt/30ooU13 Top six Dems debate trade and more, discuss need to support family farmers - Entrepreneur Generations

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