The Supreme Court will soon decide the issue of the President’s tariffs. The question before the court will be ‘was it legal?’ meaning does he have the power to make and implement such a change in international trade across the world?
Historically, as written in the U.S. Constitution, the power to tariff belongs to the Legislature, the House and Senate. The President was given a small window to impact trade via a little-used law designed for national emergencies, which never even mentions tariffs. The President drove a large wrecking truck through that window and knocked down the house as well.
One of the reasons given to implement tariffs is to restore American manufacturing greatness. We need to increase manufacturing in this country, especially in those industries that impact national security. However, this is basically a false political promise made to the American working class for three reasons:
TARGET - Manufacturing is not a target of these tariffs. If they were, why would it be applied to imported agricultural products, like cinnamon from Vietnam? The next time I buy, it will likely cost me 40 percent more for cinnamon. How will these tariffs, for products we do not grow in the U.S., increase manufacturing and jobs?
JOBS - Promises can be made, but no new plants are being built, and manufacturing jobs are actually going down during the President’s time in office due to a worsening economy. Of course, plants take time to build and time to train workers. However, any new plants will be equipped with costly automation, which will result in fewer jobs.
ECONOMY – Unless he fixes the economy as he promised to do (on day one), tariffs will hurt, not help. Tariffs have not been effective in increasing manufacturing to date. Remember, the product country does not pay the tariff/tax like the President claims. The importer pays the money from tariffs, passed on to the consumer and goes into the general fund like all other taxes.
A new “golden age” of manufacturing is unlikely to occur, as no new major manufacturing plants are expected to be built anytime soon. Meanwhile, these trade policies are hurting American farmers and ranchers. If tariffs remain in place, what will be the ultimate cost to the American consumer?
Darrell Anderson
Battle Ground
•••
Letters To The Editor
Readers are encouraged to express their views by writing to the editor of The Reflector. Letters are limited 500 words. Deadline is noon Thursday. Writers are limited to two letters per calendar quarter. All letters must be signed with name, address, plus phone number for verification. Items submitted are subject to editing and will become the property of this newspaper. Opinions expressed in the Letters to the Editor section of this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of The Reflector or its staff.
Email: letters@thereflector.com
Mail: The Reflector, Attention: Letters to the Editor,
209 E Main St., Suite 121 Battle Ground, WA 98604
