Bernie Sanders & Elizabeth Warren are Taking The “Free” Out of Trade
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are the most progressive candidates in a crowded field of politicians in the Democratic primary race. Currently polling behind Joe Biden, the two candidates’ stances on anti-corruption in politics, pharmaceutical industries, and multinational trading corporations have resonated with the American people. Behind their stances are the average working Americans whose freedom they seek to defend: the freedom to prosper within a rigged economy. However, despite their Never Trump rhetoric and popular positions, their trade policies align with President Trump more than that of any other Democratic candidate.
The Trump Administration has plunged the U.S. into a trade war with China that has increased prices on goods and created inaccessible exports markets for farmers, which has been incredibly harmful for the agriculture industry. Many economists have stated that because of these new protectionist policies, long-term effects could entail a significant global economic slowdown. In response to the threat of a recession, the recent stock market has had recent significant drops that it is now currently recovering from. Rather than adopting the Trumpian nationalist approach (the idea that China is ripping off the U.S.), Sanders and Warren hold different objections to free trade. The two have asserted that free trade is dominated by multinational trading corporations that exploit their workers, harm the environment, and only benefit other large industries. While to some degree trade policies facilitate these things, the overwhelmingly positive outcomes are overlooked. The laborer, whom they claim is exploited, is also an American consumer whose wages are worthless if they can’t afford consumer goods. The truth is that nearly every reputable economist agrees that free trade is necessary for the production of goods and promotes positive international relations.
The negative rhetoric about multinational companies dominating trade is ridiculous. If trade policies were entirely up to politicians, American businesses (that know how to conduct the most effective trade) would be limited from engaging in exchanges that best promote the production and importation of goods. The restriction could be comparable to a national athletic organization deciding the NFL’s team recruitment policies when football corporations understand what is most beneficial for their teams, and thus entertainment for every football watcher.
This isn’t to say that some multinational corporations don’t tailor policies to enable them to profit off of exploited workers and outsource jobs. This should be handled as a cause for reform, not for protectionism or scapegoating free trade in and of itself. It is also true that free trade can serve to democratize trading partners. By lowering the prices of goods, free trade helps disincentivize companies to pay their workers low amounts. On the political side, good trade relations help form alliances that can lead to progressive outcomes. When countries become mutual beneficiaries of one another, it opens doors to preconditions in trade agreements that would limit economic and environmental harmful policies.
Nearly 84% of Democrats support international free trade, an opinion aligned with most expert economists. This means if Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren seek to best electable option , they ought to refrain from taking anti-free trade positions. Free trade benefits American businesses, workers, and consumers alike and is a necessary aspect of a healthy global economy. If the ideal image of Sanders and Warren is to become fully progressive, it follows naturally that they would embrace a reformative free trade policy.
by ANDREA REIER