Trump Cabinet members actions and issues: on Free Trade
Larry Kudlow:
Trump's strategy on China tariffs is working
On China, the tariffs have hurt them enormously. Business investment is falling, retail sales--China is in some economic trouble.
President Trump is using tariffs in order to put more pressure on the Chinese economy. I think his strategy is, in fact, working.
Source: Fox News Sunday interview for 2019 Trump Cabinet
Aug 18, 2019
Andrew Puzder:
We need to stand up to China; we'll win trade war
Puzder said that the U.S. would emerge victorious in the trade war with China. "We're definitely the party that's the strongest here. They can punish us with about $130 billion worth of what we export to China. We've got over
$400 billion of what China exports to us. We're in a much stronger position.""We need to stand up. We're the leader of the free world and we need to stand up to China," said Puzder.
Source: Fox News on Trump Cabinet
May 20, 2019
Sonny Perdue:
Promote agricultural interests to international markets
Additionally, Perdue recognizes that American agriculture needs a strong advocate to promote its interests to international markets. The United States is blessed to be able to produce more than its citizens can consume, which implies that we should sell
the bounty around the world. The relationship between the USDA and its trade representatives, as well as with the U.S. Trade Representative and Department of Commerce, will be vital. The work of promoting American agricultural products to other
countries will begin with those relationships and will benefit us domestically, just as it will fulfill the moral imperative of helping to feed the world. Perdue has pledged to be an unapologetic advocate for American agriculture.Under Secretary
Perdue, the USDA will always be facts-based and data-driven, with a decision-making mindset that is customer-focused. He will seek solutions to problems and not lament that the agency might be faced with difficult challenges.
Source: USDA official website for Trump Cabinet biographies
Dec 31, 2018
Sonny Perdue:
USMCA trade pact important for workers, economy as a whole
With the announcement of a new trade pact among the United States, Mexico and Canada, we welcomed the tremendous news that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will be replaced by a much stronger agreement. Known as the
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the package will be important for American workers and our economy as a whole, including the agricultural sector, which counts Mexico and Canada in our top three trading partners.
Source: White House press release, "USMCA" (Trump Cabinet)
Oct 18, 2018
Sonny Perdue:
Supports USMCA trade agreement to replace NAFTA
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement: One of the core promises that swept President Donald Trump into office was that he would renegotiate better deals for the United States with our traditional trading partners.
With the announcement of a new trade pact among the United States, Mexico and Canada, we welcomed the tremendous news that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will be, if approved by Congress, replaced by a much stronger agreement.
Known as the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the package will be important for American workers and the economy.
Perdue said, "The great news of a new USMCA deal is important for our economy as a whole, including the agricultural sector,
which counts Canada and Mexico in our top three trading partners. We have secured greater access to these vital markets and will maintain and improve the highly productive integrated agricultural relationship we have as nations."
Source: White House press release "USMCA" in Trump Cabinet statement
Oct 2, 2018
Steve Mnuchin:
Supports USMCA trade agreement to replace NAFTA
The USMCA is a new trade pact among the United States, Mexico and Canada, intended as a stronger and modernized replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin: "The
US-Mexico-Canada deal will open markets and create economic opportunities for workers and businesses across North America. Modernizing this agreement rebalances our important trade partnerships and will boost economic growth for our three nations."
Source: White House press release "USMCA" in Trump Cabinet statement
Oct 2, 2018
Wilbur Ross:
Supports USMCA trade agreement to replace NAFTA
The USMCA is a new trade pact among the United States, Mexico and Canada, intended as a stronger and modernized replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross: "This deal clearly vindicates @realDonaldTrump's trade policy. It is fundamental reform. Rest in peace #NAFTA."
Source: White House press release "USMCA" in Trump Cabinet statement
Oct 2, 2018
Sonny Perdue:
Tariffs on China are painful now, but healthy later
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told Fox News that President Trump's tariffs on imports from China, the European Union and other nations are "a little bit like weight loss: it's kind of painful to start with, but you're healthier in the end." However,
Perdue also acknowledged "legitimate anxiety over the tariffs and the pain they've caused."The secretary spoke to Fox News as a set of 10% tariffs on $200 billion worth of imported Chinese goods is due to take effect Aug. 23. The proposed tariffs
affect more than 6,000 product lines, including seafood, tobacco and car components. Beijing has responded by threatening new tariffs of 5% to 25% on roughly 5,000 US products.
"China has not been playing by the rules for years and we've allowed for
them year after year to get away with that," Perdue told Fox News. "And frankly, we've got barriers across the world, not just in China, but in the European Union. If we turned our farmers loose in America they would own the market internationally."
Source: Fox News' Samuel Chamberlain on 2018 Trump Cabinet
Aug 15, 2018
Steve Mnuchin:
Free market proponent but tariffs OK to reduce trade deficit
While colleagues describe Mnuchin as someone who believes in free markets and views trade barriers as a last resort, those close to the secretary say he has learned to appreciate President Trump's use of the threat of tariffs as a negotiating tool.
In talks with China, he has been focused on the president's desire to see the bilateral trade deficit reduced, rather than emphasizing some of the other trade barriers that many lawmakers and executives say put American companies at a disadvantage.
Source: Alan Rappeport in N. Y. Times on 2018 Trump Cabinet
Jun 3, 2018
Wilbur Ross:
Auto imports are threatening U.S. auto industry
The national security probe under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 would investigate whether vehicle and parts imports were threatening the industry's health and ability to research and develop new, advanced technologies, the
Commerce Department said. "There is evidence suggesting that, for decades, imports from abroad have eroded our domestic auto industry," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement, promising a "thorough, fair and transparent investigation."
Source: Reuters, "Auto import probe," on 2018 Trump Cabinet
May 23, 2018
Steve Mnuchin:
3-part agenda: tax & regulatory relief; free & fair trade
Q: You said there is the potential of a trade war with China. How should Americans prepare for that risk?MNUCHIN: Actually, I said our expectation is that we don't think there will be a trade war. Our objective is to continue to have discussions with
China. We want to have free and fair, reciprocal trade. We're just looking for our companies and our workers to have a level playing field. And right now, we have about $500 billion of goods that we buy from China and they buy about $135 billion from us.
Q: This has caused such nervousness in the markets--
MNUCHIN: The markets have had a lot of volatility in general. The market is still up a tremendous amount since the election. The tax plan is kicking in. Our regulatory relief is
kicking in. Trade has always been the third part of our agenda. But let me just put this in perspective. If we can open up their $10 trillion economy for us to compete fairly, this is one of the single biggest opportunities long term for U.S. companies.
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2018 interviews of Trump Cabinet members
Apr 8, 2018
Steve Mnuchin:
Free markets YES, but U.S. needs balanced trade agreements
"There's no doubt that the secretary [Steve Mnuchin] represents the president's very strong view that we believe in free trade," the [U.S. Treasury] official told reporters. "But the environment we're in now, where the expectation is America totally
subordinates its national interests in order for the free trade system to work, is just one we don't accept. So, we've been very clear, we believe in free trade with reciprocal terms that leads to more balanced trade relationships."
Source: David Lawder, Reuters News Service, on Trump Cabinet
Mar 19, 2018
Sonny Perdue:
Helped save NAFTA by showing Trump red state farmers need it
President Trump was set to "terminate" the North American Free Trade Agreement until top advisers sat down with him to press him to go another route. Perdue even brought along a prop: A map of the United States that illustrated the areas that would be
hardest hit, particularly from agriculture and manufacturing losses, and highlighting that many of those states and counties were "Trump country." You know the rest: By Wednesday evening, Trump had backed off his plans.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Trump Cabinet
Jan 19, 2017
Page last updated: Dec 03, 2021