Before we get to the U.S. Steel and AFL-CIO statements, let's consider a little history about tariffs and their success--under Republican administrations:
From Lincoln to William McKinley to Theodore Roosevelt, and from Warren Harding through Calvin Coolidge, the Republican Party erected the most awesome manufacturing machine the world had ever seen.
And, as the party of high tariffs through those seven decades, the GOP was rewarded by becoming America's Party.
Thirteen Republican presidents served from 1860 to 1930, and only two Democrats. And Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson were elected only because the Republicans had split.
Why, then, this terror of tariffs that grips the GOP? . . .
“Trade wars are not won, only lost,” warns Sen. Jeff Flake. But this is ahistorical nonsense.
The U.S. relied on tariffs to convert from an agricultural economy in 1800 to the mightiest manufacturing power on earth by 1900.
Bismarck’s Germany, born in 1871, followed the U.S. example, and swept past free trade Britain before World War I.
Does Senator Flake think Japan rose to post-war preeminence through free trade, as Tokyo kept U.S. products out, while dumping cars, radios, TVs and motorcycles here to kill the industries of the nation that was defending them. Both Nixon and Reagan had to devalue the dollar to counter the predatory trade policies of Japan.
Since Bush I, we have run $12 trillion in trade deficits, and, in the first decade in this century, we lost 55,000 factories and 6,000,000 manufacturing jobs.
Does Flake see no correlation between America’s decline, China’s rise, and the $4 trillion in trade surpluses Beijing has run up at the expense of his own country? (Patrick J. Buchanan: Why Is the GOP Terrified of Tariffs? | VDARE - premier news outlet for patriotic immigration reform)
The United States Steel Corporation (U.S. Steel) and the AFL-CIO, the biggest American federation of labor unions, as well as Senator Bernie Sanders, with whom I agree 90% on trade, have come out in strong support of President Trump's decision to impose high tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. U.S. Steel has also praised Trump's recent tariff hikes on washing machines and solar panels. Let's start with the ALF-CIO statement.
AFL-CIO:
U.S. Steel:
Globalists and free traders ignore the fact that a proven result of high tariffs is that they are designed, in part, to encourage foreign companies to manufacture their products in the U.S. The idea is NOT to keep foreign goods out of the country but to induce foreign companies to move production here. If a foreign company moves here, it hires American workers, pays American state and local taxes, and must compete with American companies on a level playing field.
Democratic politicians from the Rust Belt states have voiced support for President Trump's tariff hikes:
Rust-belt Democrats praise Trump's threatened metals tariffs
Democratic congresswoman supports Trump's tariffs: We can't afford to lose US steel production
Brown Welcomes Trump’s Plans to Finally Act on Steel Imports | U.S. Senator for Ohio
Further reading on tariffs, protectionism, and trade:
Free Trade vs. the Republican Party
https://enforcement.trade.gov/download/factsheets/factsheet-prc-alum-ext-adcvd-final-032911.pdf
https://enforcement.trade.gov/steel/license/documents/execsumm.pdf
U.S. Department of Commerce Finds Dumping and Subsidization of Imports of Silicon Metal from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Norway
Section 232 Reports
U. S. Steel Issues Statement on Department of Commerce Section 232 Report | United States Steel Corporation
Unions praise Trump on steel tariffs
From Lincoln to William McKinley to Theodore Roosevelt, and from Warren Harding through Calvin Coolidge, the Republican Party erected the most awesome manufacturing machine the world had ever seen.
And, as the party of high tariffs through those seven decades, the GOP was rewarded by becoming America's Party.
Thirteen Republican presidents served from 1860 to 1930, and only two Democrats. And Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson were elected only because the Republicans had split.
Why, then, this terror of tariffs that grips the GOP? . . .
“Trade wars are not won, only lost,” warns Sen. Jeff Flake. But this is ahistorical nonsense.
The U.S. relied on tariffs to convert from an agricultural economy in 1800 to the mightiest manufacturing power on earth by 1900.
Bismarck’s Germany, born in 1871, followed the U.S. example, and swept past free trade Britain before World War I.
Does Senator Flake think Japan rose to post-war preeminence through free trade, as Tokyo kept U.S. products out, while dumping cars, radios, TVs and motorcycles here to kill the industries of the nation that was defending them. Both Nixon and Reagan had to devalue the dollar to counter the predatory trade policies of Japan.
Since Bush I, we have run $12 trillion in trade deficits, and, in the first decade in this century, we lost 55,000 factories and 6,000,000 manufacturing jobs.
Does Flake see no correlation between America’s decline, China’s rise, and the $4 trillion in trade surpluses Beijing has run up at the expense of his own country? (Patrick J. Buchanan: Why Is the GOP Terrified of Tariffs? | VDARE - premier news outlet for patriotic immigration reform)
The United States Steel Corporation (U.S. Steel) and the AFL-CIO, the biggest American federation of labor unions, as well as Senator Bernie Sanders, with whom I agree 90% on trade, have come out in strong support of President Trump's decision to impose high tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. U.S. Steel has also praised Trump's recent tariff hikes on washing machines and solar panels. Let's start with the ALF-CIO statement.
AFL-CIO:
For years, we have called attention to the predatory practices of some steel exporting countries. Such practices hurt working people and cheat companies that produce in the U.S. We applaud the administration's efforts today to fix this problem. Effective enforcement of trade laws, including section 232, is critical to leveling the playing field and ensuring that U.S. steel producers and their employees have a fair shot in the global economy. Secretary Ross, Ambassador Lighthizer and Director Navarro have rightly advocated for these actions despite opposition from the Wall Street wing of the administration. This is a great first step toward addressing trade cheating, and we will continue to work with the administration on rewriting trade rules to benefit working people. (Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Good for Working People | AFL-CIO)
U.S. Steel:
We are pleased to see the President's action on products critical to American manufacturing and energy production. We are hopeful the President will similarly use his authority to establish a broad Section 232 remedy targeting steel imports that threaten U.S. national security by undermining our industry, economic competitiveness and the industrial foundation on which our manufacturing sector rests [this is exactly what Trump is doing by raising steel tariffs]. We believe broad and decisive action against the multitude of foreign producers is fundamental to protecting our national security and American jobs.” (U.S. Steel Issues Statement on Presidential Tariffs on Imported Washing Machines, Solar Panels | United States Steel Corporation)
Globalists and free traders ignore the fact that a proven result of high tariffs is that they are designed, in part, to encourage foreign companies to manufacture their products in the U.S. The idea is NOT to keep foreign goods out of the country but to induce foreign companies to move production here. If a foreign company moves here, it hires American workers, pays American state and local taxes, and must compete with American companies on a level playing field.
Democratic politicians from the Rust Belt states have voiced support for President Trump's tariff hikes:
Rust-belt Democrats praise Trump's threatened metals tariffs
Democratic congresswoman supports Trump's tariffs: We can't afford to lose US steel production
Brown Welcomes Trump’s Plans to Finally Act on Steel Imports | U.S. Senator for Ohio
Further reading on tariffs, protectionism, and trade:
Free Trade vs. the Republican Party
https://enforcement.trade.gov/download/factsheets/factsheet-prc-alum-ext-adcvd-final-032911.pdf
https://enforcement.trade.gov/steel/license/documents/execsumm.pdf
U.S. Department of Commerce Finds Dumping and Subsidization of Imports of Silicon Metal from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Norway
Section 232 Reports
U. S. Steel Issues Statement on Department of Commerce Section 232 Report | United States Steel Corporation
Unions praise Trump on steel tariffs
Last edited: