A healthy, growing manufacturing industry is essential for good, middle-class jobs, for broadly shared prosperity in the US, and for long-term economic growth. Manufacturing is essential for national security, health security, and a robust, resilient supply of many essential and non-essential goods.
The US must make the US dollar competitive again, rebalance trade, and support US manufacturing with effective Buy American policies to relaunch manufacturing growth. We must use tariff policies where required against foreign predation, dumping, IP theft, and other anti competitive policies of foreign governments. We must use targeted industrial policies when necessary to support industries deemed essential for national security or economic security.
For years, the de minimis loophole has flooded the U.S. with uninspected, untaxed, and often dangerous goods—from counterfeit products to fentanyl precursors fueling America’s opioid crisis.
Tariffs are an effective tool for boosting domestic production. They stimulate critical domestic investment and increase U.S. manufacturing capacity. It’s past time to abandon the outdated dogma of unregulated free trade — and start focusing on rebuilding American industry to create jobs and ensure long-term economic resilience.
Nine different companies joined members of the House Select Committee on China at a press conference on Wednesday to talk about their battles with “China trade cheats” that have cost them a fortune. Most of them closed factories, or rolled back investment. Despite tariffs and anti-dumping (AD/CVD) trade case victories, the battle continues.
CPA’s report demonstrates that previous tariff exemptions and exclusions significantly weakened the effectiveness of the original tariffs imposed in 2018.
In a House Oversight subcommittee hearing on Feb. 26, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was hit with the usual swipes from detractors, with some calling it the “green scam”, but China’s solar company benefits were never mentioned.
Lutnick has faced adversity before. He lost his parents when he was just 18 and later rebuilt Cantor Fitzgerald after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks claimed the lives of over 600 staff and key executives, including his own brother. Now, as Commerce Secretary, he must tell trade ministers that the United States is seeking a different kind of relationship.