Free trade must be our goal because it holds the best promise for economic success. But unfair trade is the unfortunate reality today. As your representative, Justin will fight for trade agreements and policies that enforce real free trade – not the illusion of it.

Short-sighted policies and an uneven playing field have created enormous trade deficits for the United States. The imbalance in trade has contributed to falling wages, rising unemployment, a weak dollar, and lost tax revenue. Working Americans are being hit hardest.

As your representative, Justin will fight for trade agreements and policies that enforce real free trade – not the illusion of it.

Through inaction and wishful thinking, our own government has put American businesses at a disadvantage in the global marketplace. 137 countries get around free trade rules by using a “value added tax” on American products. These taxes serve as tariffs that make it difficult – if not impossible – for U.S. companies to export their goods. By no coincidence, the U.S. has not had a trade surplus since 1975.

The government has also failed to enforce existing trade agreements as competitors restrict U.S. access to their markets. Free trade should not mean a free ride for countries that routinely break international trade laws.

Enough is enough. The U.S. government must shed self-defeating policies and pursue trade arrangements that put American businesses on an equal playing field. This means getting serious about foreign tariffs, currency manipulation, and other practices that cause unhealthy trade relations.