Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said on Sunday he was questioning Trump’s “endgame” in Trump’s tariffs, saying that ongoing “volatility” is not good for businesses.
“One of the things I’ve learned in the private sector is that unpredictability can work very well in negotiations, but the private sector – businesses want certainty. They want stability. They don’t want to see volatility.”
“And so, what is my endgame here? What is the strategy?” he continued.
Johnson called himself an “embarrassing free trader” and promoted what he considers as an advantage of world trade.
“From my point of view, I think trade is good. You get goods from people who have the relatively advantage of producing those particular goods and sell what we have comparative advantages,” he said.
Johnson said there is a location for targeted tariffs.
“I can understand that tariffs can have good uses,” Johnson said. “President Trump proved that when he threatened Mexico with tariffs, for example, if he didn’t cooperate with ‘staying in Mexico.’ It helped to secure the border. ”
“So, I’m definitely using it,” he continued. “But tariffs are double-edged swords and rather dull instruments.”
He also said he doesn’t like the idea of using tariffs as a source of income. He said when he thinks that he will “have to reduce the size of the government” and reduce spending, he “just earn more money from federal funding.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick made the news this week at the show circuit on Sunday when he said that customs exemptions on smartphones and other electronic devices were temporary.
“This is not like a permanent exemption. [Trump’s] It simply makes it clear that these cannot be negotiated by the state. These are national security and what needs to be made in America,” Rutnick told ABC “this week.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5246885-ron-johnson-trump-tariffs/
