Posted on 08/23/2017 12:20:02 AM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
Most shoppers prefer to buy American. But given a choice between an American-made product and a cheaper import from China, Mexico or another low-wage country, they’ll usually go for the bargain. That’s one reason millions of American factory workers have lost their jobs.
In last year’s presidential election, Donald Trump put the collapse of American manufacturing center stage. He pledged to take on China — our biggest trade rival — and to rip up the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada. At rallies in Indiana and Pennsylvania, he told crowds that “we cannot continue to allow China to rape our country” and “there are no jobs because China has our jobs.” He warned upstate New Yorkers were being “horribly, horribly hurt by NAFTA.”
Just campaign rhetoric? Absolutely not. Last week, President Trump launched an investigation into China’s trade practices. This Wednesday, the administration begins renegotiating NAFTA.
The departure of White House strategist Steve Bannon last week was predicted to end what the media disparagingly call “economic nationalism.” Trump is about to prove those predictions wrong.
Trump himself railed for years against unfair trade treaties. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer share Trump’s long-held view. Lighthizer said on Friday that “NAFTA has fundamentally failed many, many Americans and needs major improvement.” He’s promising dramatic changes to NAFTA, not just “tweaks.”
Most economists claim global trade is good for America, because it keeps prices low, offers consumers choice and opens up overseas markets where US businesses and farms can sell products. That’s been the rationale for free trade for two centuries, ever since Scottish philosopher Adam Smith famously argued that the global marketplace’s “invisible hand” would benefit all.
It hasn’t worked out that smoothly. American manufacturing workers are getting the back of Smith’s invisible hand.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
This is the NUMBER ONE reason I supported Trump, along with the border wall.
Number one.
Our economy is completely sold out to China. Trump said he was intending to rectify that mess.
I sure hope he meant it.
“But, but Bannon is not there!! Wasn’t he the actual president??” /s
And for the good of America, it's of course important that the federal government prevent them from having the choice.
Canada’s liberal government saying we need to build gender equality and other social justice issues into the re-negotiated package makes it a lot easier for Trump to justify pulling out.
... “we cannot continue to allow China to rape our country” and “there are no jobs because China has our jobs.”...
...Most economists claim global trade is good for America, because it keeps prices low, offers consumers choice and opens up overseas markets where US businesses and farms can sell products....
China has been ripping off the West for far too long. China cheats and uses NAFTA to vaporize US jobs
Who replaces China basic manufactured commodities?
India!
Where does India get the coal, iron ore, minerals et all to manufacture those basic commodities?
Afghanistan!
I hope Trump pulls this off
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