American Jobs, American Strength Highlighted by Commerce Secretary

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently addressed the Daily Caller Live event, “American Jobs, American Strength,” organized by the American Beverage Association in Washington, DC. He discussed the Trump administration’s new trade agreement and the ongoing battle against harmful economic practices from China.

During an interview with Daily Caller Editor Dylan Housman, Lutnick was joined by a panel that included Wisconsin Senators Ron Johnson and Grover Norquist, along with ABA President and CEO Kevin Keene. The event was moderated by Daily Caller correspondent Reagan Reese, and featured notable figures like Phil Kelpen from American Commitment.

The discussion kicked off with Lutnick emphasizing the significance of trade victories achieved under the Trump administration, particularly a new deal with Japan that was finalized the day before.

“When I say it’s historical, I mean it outmatches anything done before,” Lutnick said, referencing the deal. “They weren’t looking to shift 1 million jobs from Japan to America, but the proposal was on the table. I spent nearly six months working on this… They arranged for $550 billion to be negotiated.”

He further explained, “The Japanese government has expressed to Trump how crucial their people are for national security and projects in the U.S.”

Lutnick also pointed out the administration’s efforts to reduce the significant $34 billion monthly tariff revenue the U.S. collects, along with tackling non-voluntary trade barriers.

The panel, featuring Senator Johnson, Norquist, and Keene, focused on the surge of job growth fueled by American-made products. Johnson, who has experience as a three-year operator at a Wisconsin manufacturing company, offered insights on the benefits of deregulation. Norquist emphasized the need to reduce bureaucratic tactics to further enhance economic growth.

The event concluded with a discussion among Duke, Kelpen, and Williams about the broader economic ripples caused by recent policies.

This session of Daily Caller Live was the second in the series, streamed to thousands online as well as a live audience at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington.