--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That means we get other countries to play…" description: "\"That means we get other countries to play by our rules. You add up all the countries that we have trade agreements with, we have a surplus with them. Y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/paul-ryan-869_add_that-means-we-get-other-countries-to-pla_1953903.jpg" --- # That means we get other countries to play by our rules… ![“That means we get other countries to play by our rules. You add up all the countries that we have trade agreements with, we have a surplus with them. You add up the countries we do not have a trade agreement with, that's where a massive trade deficit comes from. So our goal is to get free trade…” quote by Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/paul-ryan-869_add_that-means-we-get-other-countries-to-pla_1953903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/paul-ryan-869_add_that-means-we-get-other-countries-to-pla_1953903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/paul-ryan-869_add_that-means-we-get-other-countries-to-pla_1953903.jpg) > “That means we get other countries to play by our rules. You add up all the countries that we have trade agreements with, we have a surplus with them. You add up the countries we do not have a trade agreement with, that's where a massive trade deficit comes from. So our goal is to get free trade agreements, and that means we get other countries to play and live by our rules so we can level the playing field.” [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates for free‑trade agreements to align other nations with U.S. rules, aiming to reduce trade deficits and level the playing field. **In simple terms:** Trade deals should make other countries follow U.S. rules. Key Takeaway Pursue trade agreements that benefit domestic economy. Themes economics policy international relations trade competition Mood analytical critical Type political economic When to use this quote - negotiating trade deals - policy analysis - business strategy - government lobbying Key Concepts political science economics law geopolitics Questions to Reflect On - What are the impacts on domestic workers? - How to ensure fair terms for all parties? A Different Perspective Agreements may favor powerful nations and harm smaller economies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Free trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-trade/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Other countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other-countries/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playing fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-fields/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Trade agreements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade-agreements/) ## Related quotes > [We want to have trade agreements that give us a level playing field, get other countries to respect the rule of law, intellectual property…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-want-to-have-trade-agreements-that-give-us-a-level-playing-field/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [We are on pace this year to have a trade deficit that is larger than $800 billion. We have never faced that before, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-becerra/we-are-on-pace-this-year-to-have-a-trade-deficit-that-is-larger-than/) [Xavier Becerra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-becerra/) > [The trade deficit is the capital surplus and don't ever think of having a capital surplus as being a bad thing for our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-laffer/the-trade-deficit-is-the-capital-surplus-and-don-t-ever-think-of/) [Arthur Laffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-laffer/) > [Yes to trade, but trade that ensures that these other countries that trade with us aren't engaging in child labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/yes-to-trade-but-trade-that-ensures-that-these-other-countries-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Capitalism saved the world, and there is even a heretical theory now, moving up from the level of individuals to countries: countries that trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/capitalism-saved-the-world-and-there-is-even-a-heretical-theory-now/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Look at a map of the world: the countries which do not trade much, or which trade only in oil and gas, tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arancha-gonzalez/look-at-a-map-of-the-world-the-countries-which-do-not-trade-much-or/) [Arancha Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arancha-gonzalez/) > [Countries trade with each other - or to be more precise people buy and sell from each other across frontiers - because that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/countries-trade-with-each-other-or-to-be-more-precise-people-buy-and/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I've said this when I pass the trade promotion authority law, which allows us to get trade agreements. 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