Liberation Day
A big reason why the American people chose President Trump to lead our nation was his promise to bring back a golden age of American prosperity. For decades, American manufacturers and farmers have faced unfair tariffs and other trade barriers, imposed by nations around the world and designed to keep our products out of their markets. That’s why this week President Trump spoke to the American people – on what he called “Liberation Day” – to unveil new trade and tariff policies that will free our nation from its reliance on foreign goods and services to sustain the American economy and level the playing field for American workers, farmers, and manufacturers.
Washington politicians have long talked about trade fairness while also looking the other way as foreign nations undercut U.S. workers and farmers with unfair trade practices. That’s why I’ve aggressively fought against both tariff and non-tariff barriers that restrict American goods. Two years ago, after Mexico effectively blocked American corn from being sold in its country, I traveled to Mexico and directly told then-Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador that his country’s refusal to allow American corn was unacceptable. In Thailand, I told their country’s government that putting a 50 percent tariff on U.S. beef – while allowing Australian beef to come in tariff-free – would be a problem for the future of our trade relationship. When Taiwan sought better trade relations with our country, I pushed back on Taiwan’s president on why she was restricting U.S. pork in her country.
On April 2, President Trump announced new across-the-board and reciprocal tariffs on a number of countries. These tariffs target nations who claim to value access to U.S. markets but who at the very same time put high tariffs on and discriminate against American producers to protect their own domestic industries. President Trump recognizes that a new approach is needed and is sticking up for working families, farmers, and producers who have suffered years of mistreatment by other nations, both enemies and allies alike – mistreatment that has led to lost jobs, a hollowing out of communities, and a less secure America. Principles of basic fairness demand that foreign companies should face tariffs similar to those American exporters encounter.
Under President Trump’s leadership, these tariffs will leverage the power of the world’s largest market to create a level playing field for American farmers, producers, and workers. This strategy mirrors President Trump’s successful negotiating approach during his first term to persuade China to enter into the historic Phase One Agreement that required China to reverse many of its abusive trade practices while retaining U.S. leverage to address remaining unfairness in this trade relationship. I know there will be a period of adjustment to the implementation of the President’s policies, and there may be some short-term pain as markets react and make changes. But the long-term benefit of a secure American supply chain cannot be overstated nor can the benefits to American workers, farmers, and manufacturers who deserve fair treatment. I look forward to working with President Trump to implement an America First trade agenda.