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Trade Issues Have Divided Democrats, So Where Do The 2020 Candidates Stand?

Photo illustration: Getty Images and Renee Klahr/NPR

Editor's Note on April 8, 2020: With the Democratic primary now down to one candidate, we're no longer updating the below graphic. But you can still see the stances of all candidates — past and present — below.


Trade is a signature policy area for President Trump, and one where he has been able to take dramatic action. Trump's protectionist policies appealed to voters in the industrial Midwest, the region that was critical to his 2016 victory. Now, Democratic presidential candidates are campaigning in the shadow of Trump's tariffs, subsequent trade wars and pursuit of a replacement for NAFTA.

Trade has sharply divided Democrats in recent years, as they have weighed the benefits of trade, like greater access to foreign markets, against fears of job losses and the power of multinational corporations.

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Graphics designed and produced by NPR's Alyson Hurt and Thomas Wilburn. Elena Burnett is an intern on the Washington Desk. contributed to this story

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk. She appears on NPR shows, writes for the web, and is a regular on The NPR Politics Podcast. She is covering the 2020 presidential election, with particular focuses on on economic policy and gender politics.
Lexie Schapitl is a production assistant with NPR's Washington Desk, where she produces radio pieces and digital content. She also reports from the field and assists with production of the NPR Politics Podcast.
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