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Don’t Try to Blackmail Us on Nafta, Mr. President
Wall Street Journal ^ | May 10, 2018 | Pat Toomey

Posted on 05/11/2018 5:23:40 AM PDT by reaganaut1

The Trump administration will soon unveil a “new” North American Free Trade Agreement. U.S. trade negotiators have sought, among other things, to limit its duration, impose new domestic content requirements on certain products, and weaken investor legal protections. Even with these protectionist features, congressional Democrats are unlikely to vote for President Trump’s Nafta 2.0. He will need the support of pro-trade Republicans like me to ensure passage of any new agreement.

To pressure us into voting for an agreement that diminishes free trade, some in the administration suggest offering a grim choice: either approve a diminished Nafta, or the president will unilaterally withdraw the U.S. from the existing Nafta, leaving no Nafta at all.

If presented with this ultimatum, I will vote “no,” urge my colleagues to do likewise, and oppose any effort by the administration to withdraw unilaterally. Pulling out of Nafta by executive fiat would be economically harmful and unconstitutional.

The Framers reserved trade policy for Congress, which has the express authority to establish tariffs and regulate commerce with foreign nations. A president who unilaterally withdrew from Nafta would be directly regulating foreign commerce, imposing significant disruptions on the economy, and infringing on Congress’s status as a coequal branch of government.

There have been instances when presidents have unilaterally terminated treaties. They claimed to be using significant inherent and implied powers on international affairs. But as Justice Anthony Kennedy stated in a 2015 decision, these executive powers aren’t “unbounded.” And none of the handful of treaties that have been terminated unilaterally were principally commercial in nature.

Unilateral executive withdrawal would amount to the president creating new law by himself. Nafta became operative when Congress passed implementing legislation in 1993.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: 115th; nafta; pennsylvania; tariffs; toomey; trade; trump; trumptrade
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I support Toomey.
1 posted on 05/11/2018 5:23:40 AM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1

“He will need the support of pro-trade Republicans like me..”

Shut up and go away, nobody needs you.


2 posted on 05/11/2018 5:27:40 AM PDT by JPJones (More tariffs, less income tax.)
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To: reaganaut1

FOAD.


3 posted on 05/11/2018 5:29:27 AM PDT by TTFlyer
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To: reaganaut1

I’m going to support Toomey over whatever dope the Dems put up, but this is so tone-deaf for a Pennsylvania politician in an election year. And Toomey always seems to be picking the wrong battles. He is conservative on a lot of things but the only time you see him in the news is when he’s on his high horse about some liberal issue that he supports or where he’s going against Trump.


4 posted on 05/11/2018 5:29:43 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
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To: reaganaut1

NAFTA DESERVES to be diminished, from its present sweeping terms that work to the overall disadvantage of the interests of the United States. Keep in mind that neither Canada nor Mexico is a part of the United States, but separate and sovereign countries, and especially FOREIGN. Different laws, different basis to their legal codes, and sometimes subtle but highly divisive interpretations of civil conduct.

Mixing oil and water is a tricky proposition.


5 posted on 05/11/2018 5:30:20 AM PDT by alloysteel (Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.)
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To: reaganaut1

[I think we should stop putting up links that cause us to pay to read them. This good intention becomes click bait for advertising the site. Wall Street Journal should be the first to go.]


6 posted on 05/11/2018 5:30:42 AM PDT by ThePatriotsFlag (We are getting even more than we voted for.)
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To: reaganaut1

FUPT


7 posted on 05/11/2018 5:33:04 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn)
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To: reaganaut1

Tariffs are Patriot candy.


8 posted on 05/11/2018 5:33:50 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn)
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To: reaganaut1

Suddenly they want to use constitutional treaty rules. Where were these idiots when the Iran treaty was violating the constitution?


9 posted on 05/11/2018 5:34:36 AM PDT by xzins (Retired US Army chaplain. Support our troops by praying for their victory.)
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To: reaganaut1
I am not so greedy as to destroy the USA industrial base, cause social havoc, lower GDP growth, in order to buy a cheaper poor quality Mexican made consumer goods. IT'S NOT WORTH IT AT ANY PRICE.
10 posted on 05/11/2018 5:35:17 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn)
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To: reaganaut1

Toomey has his orders

He is trying to protect a frightened Pennsylvania company making products in Mexico


11 posted on 05/11/2018 5:37:49 AM PDT by Thibodeaux (Long Live the Republic!)
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To: reaganaut1
Despite the best efforts, ridiculous fear tactics and gas lighting of the Bush league globalist cabal, the USA is changing back to it's protectionist roots - and not moment to soon.

Ha ha. You lose. Where are you globalist Free Traders going to go?

12 posted on 05/11/2018 5:40:09 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn)
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To: reaganaut1

I remember when Toomey was “our guy”.


13 posted on 05/11/2018 5:40:30 AM PDT by cmj328 (We live here.)
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To: reaganaut1

Toomey is a dufus.


14 posted on 05/11/2018 5:40:40 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Q is Admiral Michael S. Rogers)
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To: reaganaut1

The Iran deal was never voted on by Congress. No problem for Trump to unilaterally kill it. NAFTA (no matter what you think of it) WAS. Congress needs to vote on the changes, and it will. Unlike Obama, Trump proceeds in a constitutional manner.


15 posted on 05/11/2018 5:41:43 AM PDT by jdsteel (Americans are Dreamers too!!!)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

Mr. “Universal Background Checks” speaks.

I give you the GOPe.


16 posted on 05/11/2018 5:46:57 AM PDT by headstamp 2 (My "White Privilege" is my work ethic.)
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To: JPJones

The minute the Democrats figure out a way to nominate a candidate who is not insane, this guy is toast.


17 posted on 05/11/2018 5:56:55 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

I’m sure he will change his toom when Trump does a mega rally in his district.


18 posted on 05/11/2018 6:01:52 AM PDT by jersey117
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To: reaganaut1
Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey has a 60% score from the Conservative Review. Not good.
19 posted on 05/11/2018 6:24:45 AM PDT by jonrick46 (Trump continues to have all the right enemies.)
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To: jonrick46
Congressman Lou Barletta, who is running against Bob Casey for the other U.S. Senate seat in PA, is the polar opposite of Pat Toomey on immigration and trade. For this reason, he has a lot of fans (including me) here on FR.

Barletta's Conservative Review score is 43%.

20 posted on 05/11/2018 6:37:30 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's.")
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