Former President Trump, along with Vice President Harris, kicked off Tuesday's presidential debate with a focus on economic policy, reiterating his pledge to raise tariffs on imports.
“We put tariffs on other countries,” Trump said. “I've taken billions of dollars from China.”
“They didn't eliminate the tariffs,” Trump said, noting that the Biden administration has kept in place many of the tariffs originally imposed.
Many policymakers in Washington have warned about the economic impact of proposed general tariffs on imports, saying they would amount to higher taxes on consumers.
Trump countered that the tariffs were a priority for American workers and would protect American jobs, and he also mentioned labor unions early in the debate. The 2017 tax reform bill he signed eliminated the tax deduction for union dues.
Other trade experts are more cautious about raising tariffs.
“Contrary to the propaganda campaigns by importers and economists, tariffs are not the product of the devil or something strange,” said Lori. Wallach, a trade policy expert and director of Rethink Trade, wrote in an analysis on Tuesday.
“Tariffs are a bipartisan tool that has been used for decades and by many countries to develop industries vital to our economy and national security,” she wrote.
