Liberation Day is here! Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump made it clear that the United States will no longer allow itself to be ripped off by the predatory economic policies of other countries. For decades, the rest of the world took advantage of weak American leadership to impose unreasonable tariffs on U.S. products, which damaged domestic exports, gutted manufacturing, and inflicted painful damage on our economy. President Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy will charge these countries a mere half of what they charge us, which is a critical step to jumpstarting domestic economic growth and manufacturing.
It is high time that an American president is willing to use every lever of power to advance the interests of his people. Until today, the trade deficit of $1.2 trillion dollars meant that 4% of U.S. GDP fled the country every year – an unsustainable rate that outpaced the rate of economic growth. Americans got poorer while subsidizing the economies of countries that charged absurd rates on U.S. products. Europe, Canada, and other protectionist regimes that are unhappy with these tariffs have one good option available: end your abusive practices and President Trump will work with you.
The New York Young Republican Club recognizes that the reciprocal tariffs placed by President Trump are firmly in the interest of the American People and looks forward to an era of strong foreign policy leadership, where the interests of Americans – and only Americans – are prioritized. These tariffs will halt the predatory practices of trade abusers, currency manipulators, and intellectual property thieves who took advantage of hardworking Americans under weak Democratic presidents. Welcome to the Golden Age!