Dr. Ben Carson said Wednesday that the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal should be renegotiated, expressing concern the pact would sacrifice American sovereignty to other nations that are party to the deal.

The 12-nation trade bloc created by TPP would encompass 40 percent of the world’s economy, eliminate more than 18,000 tariffs on a wide variety of U.S. exports, and set uniform rules on trade, labor and the environment.

Carson, who appeared Wednesday on “The Laura Ingraham Show,” said the deal will take too much control away from average Americans.

“I love free trade. And I love fairness. But I also love for the American people and their representatives to be able to weigh in on something that will have such a profound effect on economics here,” he said.

“I like the concept of us empowering our allies around the Pacific basin and improving our position. But I don’t like the concept of it being under the auspices of anything other than the representatives and the people.”

President Barack Obama and Republicans in Congress teamed up — over the objections of most congressional Democrats, and many conservatives — to create the framework for the deal. Carson said Obama should go back to the drawing table.

“Some people say, ‘You can’t renegotiate it,’” he said. “I don’t believe that. Of course you can.”

Carson said he also would reform federal benefits for immigrants. “You have to stop the goodies,” he said. “You have to stop the things that people come over here to get.”

Concern about trade and ceding sovereignty to other nations is part of what is fueling Donald Trump’s first-place standing in the national polls among Republican presidential candidates. Carson appears to recognize the opportunity to benefit from the issue.

On immigration, another issue Trump has seized, Carson said he believes the porous border between the United States and Mexico can be secured within a year using a combination of beefed-up patrols, technology and physical barriers.

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Carson said he also would reform federal benefits for immigrants.

“You have to stop the goodies,” he said. “You have to stop the things that people come over here to get.”

As for the 11 million or more illegal immigrants already in the country, Carson said he would allow most of them to stay as guest workers if they have “pristine” records, register within a defined period, pay a fine and pay back taxes.

When Ingraham pointed out that past legislative attempts to solve the problem have rejected amendments that would put teeth in enforcement, he said, “We haven’t had an administration willing to put teeth in it.”

Carson also argued that his lack of executive experience should not be a disqualifier for the presidency.

“The people are looking for a candidate with real experience, it’s a bad time to be a politician, not a good time for Jeb,” he said.

“The most important thing is, do you know how to solve problems?” he said. “Do you know how to utilize the talent around you?”

In fact, he indicated, his opponents who have such experience may be wishing the didn’t.

“The people are looking for a candidate with real experience, it’s a bad time to be a politician, not a good time for Jeb,” he said, referring to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.