The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) are key elements of American international trade policy. Supporters see them as essential to America's being able to compete in a global economy. Opponents say they compromise American sovereignty and hurt American industries and workers. Other trade issues include whether the U.S. should award "most favored nation" trading status to nations with a record of human rights abuses and whether the U.S. should use tariffs or other punitive measures to force other nations into opening their markets to American goods.

• Supported North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
• Supported renewal of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
• Supported punitive tariffs on Japanese automobiles to force Japan to open its markets to U.S. goods.
• Opposed linking China's Most Favored Nation trade status to its human rights performance.

• Supports elimination of Department of Commerce.
• Supports free trade measures such as NAFTA and GATT.

Legislative Record

• Voted for sanctions to open car-parts markets in Japan (1995).
• Voted for NAFTA (1993) and GATT (1994).
  
• Voted against linking China's "most favored nation" trade status to its human rights performance (1992).

Interest Group Ratings

• Competitive Enterprise Institute -- 1994 trade rating: 100