PolitiFact.com
Statements about Trade
Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Mostly True

Yes, but categories not clear cut

"You see a whole bunch of Korean cars here in the United States, and you don't see any American cars in Korea."

Rick Scott

Rick Scott

True

The governor speaks Canadian

"Almost 10 percent of Canadians came to visit Florida last year ... (Canadians) buy 7.4 percent of our homes in the state."

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

False

Doubling is a goal -- the U.S. is only a third of the way there

Under President Barack Obama, the United States has "doubled our exports."

Terry McAuliffe

Terry McAuliffe

True

Made in China, held in China

"China now owns $1.1 trillion of our debt, our trade deficit last year with them was a quarter of a trillion dollars."

Rick Scott

Rick Scott

Mostly True

A man a plan Panama!

"According to 2009 estimates, an agreement with Panama could result in almost 1,900 Florida jobs in the first year – and about 15,000 jobs after five years."

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Half-True

Do you factor in oil exports or not?

"For the first time in more than a decade, imports accounted for less than half of (the oil) we consumed."

John McCain

John McCain

False

Designed in U.S., made in China

Says iPads and iPhones "are built in the United States of America."

Jim Jordan

Jim Jordan

Half-True

Ratio on the rise, but economic crisis isn't a certainty

"Our debt to GDP ratios, our deficit to GDP ratios are quickly approaching the countries we have been reading about for the last year and a half. We are not far behind Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Spain and all these countries we have been reading about."

Chain email

Chain email

Pants on Fire!

No, the communists won't be living in foreign trade zones

Foreign Trade Zones allow U.S. "land to be inhabited by Chinese communists -- communists straight from China! They are to set up little towns and live here."

Rob Portman

Rob Portman

True

Export ratio tops Nepal, Tonga but trails trade powerhouse Haiti

Says the United States does not "trade as much as other developed nations."

Sherrod Brown

Sherrod Brown

Mostly True

Recession lessened the daily bill, but it's climbing again

More than 10 years of free trade "has brought a $2 billion per day trade deficit."

John Boccieri

John Boccieri

Half-True

You can't lobby for clients if you have no clients

"Mr. Renacci was registered as a foreign trade lobbyist in the United States government."

Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson

Mostly False

Claim centers on a critical news release that actually prompted changes to the project in question

Says Russ Feingold supported a stimulus plan that allowed a company to create 3,000 jobs in China.

Russ Feingold

Russ Feingold

Half-True

The number is the best available, but leaves out jobs gained through trade deals

"According to independent analysis, unfair trade deals have resulted in the loss of over 64,000 jobs in Wisconsin ... But Ron Johnson favors those deals."

Ted Strickland

Ted Strickland

False

Other people, like President Clinton, also favored these deals

"Kasich’s trade deals cost Ohio thousands of jobs - 49,000 jobs to Mexico, 91,000 to China."

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Half-True

Jobs connection is weak.

John Boehner wants to reopen a tax loophole "that actually rewarded corporations for shipping jobs and profits overseas."

American Federation for Children

American Federation for Children

Mostly False

Now that would be high-level constituent service

"Senator Jeff Plale saved my job" -- and some 300 others at Bucyrus International.

Lee Fisher

Lee Fisher

Half-True

Not totally his fault, but the charge is pretty close

"On (Rob Portman's) watch as Bush's trade czar, our deficit with China exploded" and "as Bush's budget chief, Portman oversaw a spending spree that doubled the deficit."

Kevin Brady

Kevin Brady

Mostly True

Think China

"Over 80 percent of our trade deficit today is with countries that are not trade agreement partners, that are not level playing fields for the United States."

Hank Johnson

Hank Johnson

True

Is it real fur or canine cur? Congressman wants to know.

Exporters are using a federal loophole to "deceptively sell products made from cat and dog fur" to U.S. consumers.

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