Political Stances on Protectionist Trade

“If China or any other country makes us pay a tariff of, lets say 100 [percent], or 200 [percent], or even 300 percent, and they do that, we will make them pay a reciprocal identical tariff of 100 [percent] or 200 [percent] or 300 percent right back. Its called you screw us, and we screw you. Very simple. As tariffs on foreign countries go up, taxes on American workers and families will come down very substantially.”

“Well, look, I’m not gonna speak for Donald Trump, but I certainly agree that we need to apply some broad based tariffs, especially on goods coming in from China and not just solar panels and EV stuff. We need to protect American industries from all of the competition. Because here- here’s the thing, [ … ] the reason China beats us, it’s not because they have better workers, it’s because they’re willing to use slaves to make things there. We want American – we want American workers to make this stuff at good wages.”

“I would [be willing to use tariffs to negotiate with China]. I think that what you need to do if youre going to target a particular industry in China like that, you need to make sure we have incentives here in the United States to bring that industry home. It will raise the price of the China product, but weve got to make sure its economical here in the United States, so you need to have couple that with tax incentives, tax credits, and even for things that are really important like semiconductors, I would be willing to support government support on that. I typically wouldnt do that, because generally, the market does. But I think some of these things are so important for national security, weve got to be willing to lean in on that.”