Posted on 07/27/2018 5:53:27 AM PDT by Pinkbell
As trade tensions escalate between Washington and Beijing, the U.S. Senate quietly passed legislation on Thursday that would lower trade barriers on hundreds of items made in China.
With no debate, Senate unanimously passed a bill that would cut or eliminate tariffs on toasters, chemicals and roughly 1,660 other items made outside United States.
Nearly half of those items are produced in China, according to a Reuters analysis of government records.
The United States and China, the world's two largest economies, are increasingly at loggerheads over trade.
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a series of punitive tariffs on Chinese imports in a bid to halt a Chinese surge in high-technology industries that threatens to displace U.S. dominance. China has retaliated with its own duties on imports from the United States.
The White House has not publicly taken a position on the so-called miscellaneous tariff bill, which has now passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives unanimously. The two chambers need to resolve minor differences before they can send the legislation to Trump to sign into law.
Supporters of the bill have said it would boost the economy by getting rid of tariffs set up to protect industries that no longer exist in the United States. The National Association of Manufacturers has said U.S. businesses pay $1 million a day on such import duties.
"It makes no sense because it is a direct and punishing tax on making things in America and for creating jobs in America," the trade group's president, Jay Timmons, said in a prepared statement celebrating the bill's passage.
Among the beneficiaries are companies that have moved production offshore. Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co, for example, would pay reduced tariffs on Chinese-made toaster ovens, steam irons and other household appliances it used to make domestically.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...
So, bringing in a fully made toaster makes new jobs in the US? Really?
What do US manufacturers do with those, assemble 10,000 into Transformers?
In Mississippi along Hwy.80, Sunbeam and other manufacturing plants closed in the last 2 decades.On my last drive on the east west highway that parallels interstate 20 there were signs of life last month when I drove thru there. But the area near my old stomping grounds is still very economically depressed. Meridian, which lost it’s Delco Remy starter plant, and a host of other plants that made pieces/parts, has not ever got back o it’s feet. The Naval Air Station is still there about 15 miles north, but the city is nearly lost. Crime, unemployment, aging infrastructure and a focus on bringing cultural sightseeing attractions has the city spending where it should not spend. A Children’s Museum is next on the city’s agenda after the amazing Meridian Arts and entertainment Exposition(MAEX!) opened last year.(I wonder what the attendance figures on that reveal) Most of these projects seem likely to enhance the bank accounts of a few, while ignoring the fact that the city has a image problem. By the way, is there a way I can see the vote on this bill, in both house and Senate?
Traitors, bought and paid for by the ChiComs. It’s in your face people.
The Republican Party, which could be enjoying huge popular majorities everywhere, is struggling to maintain power. All of this needless struggling could be avoided if they adopted economic nationalism. It would be clear sailing for them if they could dump the Free Traitors™.
i dont consider it the republican party. establishment republicans are more uni party than republican party. its like the republican party is the establishment republicans and then everyone else.
I agree...
It goes beyond that too.
They need to get on board the Trump train.
Yes, I agree.
Veto time!
What can he do they will override.
GOPe sold us out again. Dropping tariffs on goods not manufactured here BECAUSE the US producers were already destroyed by unfair trade or offshored??? Rewarding bad behavior never works.
The Republican Party sucks.
That is all.
Newly tough on China Rubio is suddenly quiet
“...they will override...”
At least then the President takes a strong stand and flushes the ‘rats and the establishment GOP ‘rats’ lite out in the open.
Force the scum in the senate to override a veto.
They are hoping to ride out the Trump presidency so that thing can get "back to normal" after he leaves.
Unless the American people wise up and start electing more people like Trump, then the Trump presidency will be nothing more but a speed bump for the Uniparty. Trump is only one man. He can fix everything all by himself.
Good. Any tariff enacted without congressional approval is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.