ColumnUnited States

The Democratic Party Debates Itself—and Trump—on Trade

From left, Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren during a Democratic presidential primary debate in Houston, Texas, Sept. 12, 2019 (AP photo by David J. Phillip).
From left, Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren during a Democratic presidential primary debate in Houston, Texas, Sept. 12, 2019 (AP photo by David J. Phillip).

Trade has rarely been a major issue in American presidential elections, but that could change in 2020. The obvious way for Democratic candidates to differentiate themselves from a protectionist, “trade wars are good, and easy to win” President Donald Trump would be to embrace free trade more. But Democrats traditionally have been more critical of free trade than Republicans, and the leftward tilt among party activists and some leading candidates makes that even more likely next year. So far, only former Maryland Congressman John Delaney has embraced the free trade alternative, and he is doing so poorly in polls that […]

Keep reading for free right now!

Enter your email to get instant access to the rest of this article, get five free articles every 30 days, and to receive our free email newsletter:

Or, Subscribe now to get full access.

Already a subscriber? Log in here .

What you’ll get with an All-Access subscription to World Politics Review:

A WPR subscription is like no other resource — it’s like having your own personal researcher and analyst for news and events around the globe. Become a member now, and you’ll get:

  • Immediate and instant access to the full searchable library of 15,000+ articles
  • Daily articles with original analysis, written by leading topic experts, delivered to you every weekday
  • Daily links to must-read news, analysis, and opinion from top sources around the globe, curated by our keen-eyed team of editors
  • Weekly in-depth reports, including features on important countries and issues.
  • Your choice of weekly region-specific newsletters, delivered to your inbox.
  • Smartphone- and tablet-friendly website.
  • Completely ad-free reading.

And all of this is available to you — right now for just $1 for the first 30 days.

BEGIN YOUR WPR SUBSCRIPTION NOW

More World Politics Review