NFTC Releases Analysis of 2008 Congressional Election Results and Their Impact on U.S. Trade Policy
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) has release an analysis of what the 2008 congressional election results mean for U.S. trade and engagement policies in the 111th Congress.
The NFTC conducted the analysis to explore whether there is any truth to assertions made over the past few weeks that the composition of the incoming freshman class signals a seismic shift in the future of U.S. trade policy.
The NFTC analysis found that of the eight Senate races analyzed, only four successful candidates mentioned trade explicitly on his or her Web site when discussing campaign issues. Based on these Web sites and other statements, the NFTC estimates that perhaps two of the successful candidates are less inclined towards free trade and engagement than the incumbent based upon his or her historical voting record.
Similarly, in the 52 House races analyzed, only 12 successful candidates made any mention of international trade in the issues section of his or her Web site. Further, of the 12 House races in which trade was featured, only seven successful candidates appear to advocate policies that are clearly less inclined towards free trade and engagement than their predecessors. According to the NFTC, only 23 percent of successful candidates running for a House seat mentioned trade on their Web site, which is a dramatic decline from 2006 when 54 percent of successful candidates mentioned trade.
Labels: Congress
|posted by Douglas N. Jacobson| Permalink 
