Breitbart: As President Trump made history signing into law his tariffs on steel and aluminum to protect American workers and U.S. industries, GOP megadonor Charles Koch called on “corporate leaders” to “reject” the decision.
In an op-ed for the Washington Post, Charles Koch — one-half of the pro-mass immigration Koch brothers — urged corporations and chief executives to ignore the national security and job interests of the U.S. and instead focus on profits and cheap imports when it comes to Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum.
Koch writes, opposing Trump’s tariffs:
The same has been true throughout history. Countries with the freest trade have tended to not only be the wealthiest but also the most tolerant. Conversely, the restriction of trade — whether through tariffs, quotas or other means — has hurt the economy and pitted people against each other. Tariffs increase prices, limit choices, reduce competition and inhibit innovation. Equally troubling, research shows that they fail to increase the number of jobs overall. Consider the devastation of cities such as Detroit, where trade barriers to aid the auto industry did nothing to halt its decline.
The administration’s recent decision to impose major steel and aluminum tariffs — on top of higher tariffs on washing machines and solar panels — will have the same harmful effect. Without a doubt, those who can least afford it will be harmed the most. Having just helped consumers keep more of their money by passing tax reform, it makes little sense to take it away via higher costs.
One might assume that, as the head of Koch Industries — a large company involved in many industries, including steel — I would applaud such import tariffs because they would be to our immediate and financial benefit. But corporate leaders must reject this type of short-term thinking, and we have. If we are to have a system in which businesses can succeed long term, policies must benefit everyone, not just the few.
Koch, however, does not mention the reason Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross first requested the 25 percent tariff on imported steel and 10 percent tariff on imported aluminum or why Trump has now made those tariffs official: National security.
The Trump administration says that the tariffs are crucial to making the U.S. a sustainable nation again that does not rely on foreign countries like China, among others, for cheap steel and aluminum imports.
Trump’s tariffs are designed to protect three components of national security:
- The national defense base where the U.S. is able to build war-fighting equipment without relying on a foreign country for steel and aluminum imports
- Maintaining a domestic infrastructure for steel and aluminum
- Retaining a strong, growing steel and aluminum workforce of Americans
These measures, along with the American jobs that have been lost due to free trade, went ignored by Koch, who has also opposed Trump’s efforts to reduce legal immigration levels to raise the wages and quality of life for American workers. more here
Screw the Kochs gloabalist.
You want more US manufacturing? Susidize it. But no unions allowed.
I’m beginning to see the big picture now: Free Trade = Open Borders, Tariffs = Wall, Nationalism = Fascism, Globalism = Utopia.
Japan found out what happens when a country cannot supply itself with steel, aluminum, other metals, and oil during war. A world power MUST be able to supply itself with sufficient raw materials in times of a national emergency.
No such thing as “Free Trade” Thank God for DJT and his understanding of this issue.
China is screwing us royally and this takes a SMALL step to make things right.
this article below states 147,000 jobs will be lost. Two points on this:
1. its bullshit
2. if it were to happen is there a better time to lose jobs when we are adding 300K/month and 3+% economic growth. The beer and scotch I drink come in glass bottles so no cost increase for me, LOL
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/partisan-group-predicts-trump-tariffs-cost-146000-jobs/story?id=53551869
Having been a former employee of Koch Industries after a huge buyout.
These mofos promise a workers paradise with regular wage increase for all employees and then do the opposite. And that’s all I’ll say about that.
Tariffs are also a good historical source of federal revenue and were the main source of income for the feds prior to the income tax.
Thanks to the idiot politicians our countries industrial base has been completely gutted. Corporate greed, chasing the quick buck and selling out the American people is standard operating procedure.
Remember the claptrap talk about how we were an information society and no longer needing the smokestack industries? Both parties, especially the Bush clan touted that garbage.
Traitors.
Isn’t nice to have a President who doesn’t need to accept bribes er, donations for his post Oval Office life.
We have heard for 6 months how Trump’s North Korea policies would be globally devastating – look how that turned out
This is just more of the same
FU, Chuckie.
“If we are to have a system in which businesses can succeed long term, policies must benefit everyone, not just the few.”
You’re right. These policies will help Americans. not your globalist slave labor buddies.
I don’t want to pay more for everything so a bunch of union fucks can have long coffee breaks and make a fortune at US Steel.
Teriffs only benefit the union fucks. They do not benefit you. Wake up.