U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Ditmas Park, Park Slope, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Brownsville) today said she strongly disagrees with President Donald Trump’s recent trade actions to negotiate a better fair trade agreement with China.
Clarke’s comments came in response to a continuing KCP serious where it asks candidates running for office to weigh in on bread-and-butter issues they may face in their respective elected positions – in this case issues facing federal lawmakers. Thus KCP put the question of Trump’s recent trade actions to both Clarke and her upcoming primary challenger Adem Bunkeddeko.
While foreign policy generally falls under the executive branch of the federal government, it works in partnership with Congress, which approves many presidential foreign appointments, and has the power to write and pass legislation that can affect foreign policy and international trade.
Trump is seeking a better deal with China to curb a roughly $700 billion trade imbalance with China, meaning we import much more goods from China than we export.
It is also alleged that American companies must give up intellectual property rights to China to do business in their country, and that China has committed cyber espionage to ssttel American intellectual property. Additionally, it is alleged not just by the American media and government, but in a number of media outlets and governments around the world that China violates the spirit, and possibly the letter of free trade agreements.
Trump is putting tariffs of 25 percent on a number of Chinese goods, possibly as a renegotiation ploy for a better trade agreement. China has responded with tariffs on American goods. The fear of a looming and protracted trade war has been blamed for steep drops in stock markets around the world.
“Donald Trump’s trade war will not fix our economy, bring back jobs, or improve living conditions for the middle class. Instead, it is an unnecessary provocation of our core trading partners that will raise prices on consumer goods for ordinary Americans. In fact, Trump’s rash decisions are already impacting the market. This directly affects the retirements and pensions of middle and working class Americans,” said Clarke.
“Additionally, China announced that it would impose $50 billion worth of tariffs against US planes, cars, and even soybeans. Higher tariffs on US goods introduces volatility into the market and reduces our foreign policy leverage.
“Make no mistake, Donald Trump’s tariffs are not about making America great. Instead, they are an attempt to help win political support from people who will be harmed by his own measure,” Clarke concluded.
The Bunkeddeko campaign flatly refused to give any thoughts or comments on the issue.
