Trump now says he would rather have no trade deal than the deal he negotiated.
Trump on USMCA
- Oct 10th 2024 – 2:03:32 PM EST: By the time I came into office after our victory in 2016, the Michigan auto industry was on its knees—I moved quickly and decisively to rescue the American Automobile from extinction… ✅Withdrew from the job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership. ✅Ended the disaster known as NAFTA, the worst trade deal ever made. ✅Replaced it with the brand-new USMCA, the best trade deal ever made. ✅Created massive incentives to make cars in the United States…https://links.truthsocial.com/link/110542839430424765
- Sep 2nd 2024 – 12:00:13 PM EST ….In my First Term, we achieved Major Successes to protect American Workers by negotiating Free and Fair Trade Deals, passing the USMCA (U.S./Mexico/Canada), and giving Businesses and their Workers the tools to thrive.
- Dec 19th 2023 – 4:38:11 PM EST I got you First in the Nation, USMCA, All Things Ethanol, and 28 Billion Dollars from China (and much more!!!). Nobody else could have done what I did for IOWA!!!
- RT @GOP: “The experts tell us that the USMCA… could create up to 589,000 new jobs across this country.” -@Mike_Pence https://t.co/ffwHPKoPd8
- Jan 29, 2020: Jan 29th 2020 – 1:38:39 PM EST: USMCA is a cutting edge state of the art agreement that protects, defends and serves the great people of our Country. Promises Made, Promises Kept! https://t.co/PuiG1JPTTI
October 20 2024
The Wall Street Journal comments on Trump’s Trade Threat to Mexico
Donald Trump is a trade protectionist and proud of it. During a sit-down at the Journal’s offices on Thursday, he said he thinks “tariff” is “the most beautiful word in the dictionary . . . more beautiful than any word I can think of, other than ‘faith’ or ‘love.’ And it’s close.”
Mr. Trump describes taxes on U.S. imports as his go-to solution for almost any problem he might confront as president, including Chinese aggression against Taiwan. He likes the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, completed in 2020. It “has turned out to be a very good trade deal,” he said. But he quickly added: “Frankly, if I had my choice, I’d have no trade deal. I really think we’d do much better.”
Statements like that from the self-described “tariff man” keep investors up at night. A rules-based trade pact institutionalizes openness and provides legal certainty to those willing to commit capital. Continental free trade since 1994 has been a boon to all three countries, with an estimated $1.8 trillion in U.S. goods and services trade with its USMCA partners in 2022, according to the U.S. trade representative. Mexico is now the largest U.S. trading partner and Canada a close second.
The Mexican peso weakened last week as the former president rose in the polls, and that’s likely no coincidence. Mexico may in the end cooperate with the U.S. on China, but Mr. Trump’s antitrade ideology remains a deeper concern. It conflicts with what we know to be true: To boost the global competitiveness of U.S. firms, capital needs to be allocated to its highest use.
Less work in Mexico is less work for better-paid employees in the U.S. And nearshoring weakens China’s edge. All reasons to get closer to Mexico, not push it away.
Nothing is Better Than Something
Not only is nothing better than something, that something is a deal Trump himself called the best deal in history.
Now Trump says no deal at all is better than the deal he negotiated.
What a hoot.
Trump’s “Art of the Deal” is hypocritical bragging and cognitive dissonance. But it will make complete sense to all his true believers.
Trump Vow to Deport Millions of Immigrants
Also consider How Difficult Would it Be For Trump to Deport Millions of Immigrants?
Leaving aside the wisdom of doing what Trump says, how easy or hard would it be to fulfill his campaign promise?
Buy American Provisions
On October 5, I commented Buy American Provisions Cost $125,000 Per Job Created
“Buy America” sounds great. But it’s costly and about to rise steeply.
Trump Claims Tariffs Will Reduce the Trade Deficit
On September 26, I commented Trump Claims Tariffs Will Reduce the Trade Deficit. Let’s Fact Check.
Trump proposes 60 percent tariffs on China. Would that reduce the trade deficit? Where? How?
Trump’s trade policy is, in a single word, asinine. But some see it this way “tariff is a more beautiful word than love.”
What a pathetic choice this nation has in the election.