A clash over the China trade war and agriculture. Those topics made an appearance on the stage as Mike Pence and Kamala Harris took part in the first and only Vice Presidential Debate.
The pandemic was front and center during the Vice Presidential Debate, but agriculture made a few appearances.
When asked about our relationship with China, VP Mike Pence pointed to a different trade deal.
“Everybody knows NAFTA caused literally thousands of American factories to close. We saw automotive jobs go south of the border; President Trump fought to renegotiate NAFTA. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is now the law of the land,” the Vice President stated. “The American people deserve to know, Senator Kamala Harris was one of only ten members of the Senate to vote against the USMCA. It was a huge win for America auto workers, it was a huge win for farmers, especially dairy in the upper Midwest.”
California Senator and Democratic vice presidential candidate, Kamala Harris says that the trade war with China hurt jobs and manufacturing.
Harris notes, “Let’s look at the job situation, we mentioned before, the trade deal, the trade war they wanted to call it with China. It resulted in the loss of over 300,000 manufacturing jobs, a manufacturing recession, and the American consumer paid thousands of dollars more for goods because of that failed war, that they called it.”
On climate change, VP Pence says that he is proud of the administration’s work.
“First, I’m very proud of our record on the environment and conservation. According to all our best estimates, our air and land are cleaner than anytime ever recorded. Our water is among the cleanest in the world, and just a little while ago the President signed the Great American Outdoors Act, which is the largest investment in lands and public parts in 100 years,” Pence said. “So, President Trump has made a commitment to conservation and to the environment.”
Senator Harris says that Joe Biden understands how climate change is contributing to severe weather.
“Part of those jobs that will be created by Joe Biden are going to be about clean energy or renewable energy, because Joe understands that the west coast of our country is burning, including my home state of California,” she said. “Joe sees what is happening in the Gulf States, which are being battered by storms. Joe has seen and talked with the farmers in Iowa, who’s entire crops has been destroyed by floods.”
The debate was moderated by Susan Page and hosted by the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Next week, President Donald Trump and Joe Biden will be back on stage for the second Presidential Debate.
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