"I fully support global commerce"
About this Quote
A concise credo from a California Central Valley congressman, the line points to a worldview shaped by an export-driven district and the practical burdens of trade policy on farms, factories, and ports. Jim Costa represents a region where almonds, pistachios, dairy, and specialty crops reach profitability only when overseas markets are open and predictable. Saying he fully supports global commerce signals not just approval of cross-border trade, but a commitment to the rules, institutions, and infrastructure that make it work: trade agreements, dispute resolution, port capacity, reliable logistics, and export finance.
The emphasis on global commerce rather than the narrower free trade hints at a broader ecosystem that includes services, investment, technology transfer, and data flows. It also implies a rules-based order where the United States engages allies, enforces standards, and competes with China and others without retreating into tariffs that fall back on local producers. During tariff fights that hit California agriculture with retaliatory duties, Costa repeatedly argued for opening markets and strengthening enforcement instead of escalating barriers. The stance aligns with a moderate Democratic tradition: promote trade that raises labor and environmental standards, hold partners accountable, and ensure American workers share in the gains.
Support, however, is not naïve cheerleading. Global commerce brings dislocation alongside growth. The Central Valley has felt both sides: booming export crops dependent on foreign demand, and communities vulnerable to shifts in currency, phytosanitary rules, or geopolitical tensions. A durable pro-trade position therefore pairs openness with domestic investment in workforce skills, infrastructure, and innovation, and with strong enforcement against dumping and intellectual property theft. It favors modern agreements like an improved NAFTA (USMCA) that tighten labor compliance while expanding market access.
By staking out an unambiguous endorsement, Costa places his politics in the pragmatic camp: engage the world, write the rules, compete hard, and manage the frictions so that the benefits of globalization reach the growers, shippers, and workers back home.
The emphasis on global commerce rather than the narrower free trade hints at a broader ecosystem that includes services, investment, technology transfer, and data flows. It also implies a rules-based order where the United States engages allies, enforces standards, and competes with China and others without retreating into tariffs that fall back on local producers. During tariff fights that hit California agriculture with retaliatory duties, Costa repeatedly argued for opening markets and strengthening enforcement instead of escalating barriers. The stance aligns with a moderate Democratic tradition: promote trade that raises labor and environmental standards, hold partners accountable, and ensure American workers share in the gains.
Support, however, is not naïve cheerleading. Global commerce brings dislocation alongside growth. The Central Valley has felt both sides: booming export crops dependent on foreign demand, and communities vulnerable to shifts in currency, phytosanitary rules, or geopolitical tensions. A durable pro-trade position therefore pairs openness with domestic investment in workforce skills, infrastructure, and innovation, and with strong enforcement against dumping and intellectual property theft. It favors modern agreements like an improved NAFTA (USMCA) that tighten labor compliance while expanding market access.
By staking out an unambiguous endorsement, Costa places his politics in the pragmatic camp: engage the world, write the rules, compete hard, and manage the frictions so that the benefits of globalization reach the growers, shippers, and workers back home.
Quote Details
| Topic | Business |
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