This was a fun moment (no, really!) during tonight's Republican Fox Business debate. Donald Trump ranted on and on incoherently about the TPP until he stopped, and Rand Paul corrected him.
There are lots of reasons to object to the TPP, but Trump's reasons just didn't have a basis in reality.
Transcript via Vox:
Donald Trump: Almost everybody takes advantage of the United States. China in particular, because they're so good. It's the number one abuser of this country. And if you look at the way they take advantage, it's through currency manipulation. It's not even discussed in the almost 6,000-page agreement.…
Rand Paul: Hey, Gerard, you know, we might want to point out China is not part of this deal.
Oops. But Fox Business moderator Gerard Baker gave Trump an opportunity to save face:
Gerard Baker: True, it's true.… Isn't that part of the problem, when I say, senator, that if this deal is not ratified by the US Senate, then it would actually give China an opportunity to grow its economic leadership, which it's been seeking to do, and if the US is unable to take part in this trade deal with these countries in Asia, China will take the lead?
Rand Paul: There is an argument that China doesn't like the deal, because in us doing the deal we will be trading with competitors. You're exactly right.
