Ron Paul: The Case for Free Trade

President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on steel have sent the already fallen stock market down further. This is because tariffs hurt industries that rely on steel, raising their prices to consumers. Tariffs also invite retaliation by other countries.

Campaign for Liberty has co-signed the following letter to President Trump requesting that he withdraw his proposed tariffs:

March 6, 2018

The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

On behalf of the undersigned groups representing millions of taxpayers and consumers across the country, we urge you to reconsider the tariffs on aluminum and steel announced on March 1, 2018. We appreciate your work cutting taxes and promoting America, but tariffs on aluminum and steel will be a tax on the Middle Class with everything from cars to baseball bats to even beer being more expensive.

Free trade is an integral foundation for any economy seeking growth, innovation, and expanded opportunity. Not only is free trade good for the U.S. economy, it is also good for the American taxpayer.

As President, you pledged to put America and American jobs first. But imposing tariffs would be bad for the economy and bad for American workers. U.S. manufacturers that consume steel employ an estimated 40 to 60 times more U.S. workers than do steel producing facilities. This tax hike would put these jobs at risk. In fact, when George W Bush increased tariffs on steel, 200,000 jobs were lost as a direct result.

If the U.S. government develops a fortress mentality in a global marketplace, it will spur trading partners to treat U.S. products in the same manner. If foreign governments imitate the U.S. use of tariffs, U.S. exports of manufactured goods could decline. Nothing is more important to long term U.S. prosperity than being able to sell exceptional products in markets that 95 percent of the population call home.

In December, you signed into law the most significant tax reform in more than 30 years. These tax cuts will revolutionize the US economy, create new jobs and increase living standards throughout the country. This new tariff proposal puts all of that at risk. A new tax on steel and aluminum will cost jobs, increase costs to consumers, and force businesses to go overseas. We strongly urge you to reconsider this proposal.

Sincerely,

David Williams, President, Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Phil Kerpen, President, American Commitment
Steve Pociask, President, American Consumer Institute
Lisa B. Nelson, CEO, American Legislative Exchange Council
Ashley N. Varner, Executive Director, ALEC Action
Robert Alt, President & CEO, Buckeye Institute
Norm Singleton, President, Campaign for Liberty
Andrew F. Quinlan, President, Center for Freedom and Prosperity
Jeffrey Mazzella, President, Center for Individual Freedom
Iain Murray, Vice President for Strategy Competitive Enterprise Institute
Matthew Kandrach, President, Consumer Action for a Strong Economy
Frederik Roeder, Managing Director, Consumer Choice Center
David McIntosh, President, Club for Growth
Robert Roper, President, Ethan Allen Institute
Jason Pye, Vice President of Legislative Affairs FreedomWorks
George Landrith, President, Frontiers of Freedom
Mario Lopez, President, Hispanic Leadership Fund
John Tillman, CEO, Illinois Policy Institute
Carrie L. Lukas, President, Independent Forum
Heather R. Higgins, CEO, Independent Voice
Tom Giovanetti, President, Institute for Policy Innovation
Kory Swanson, President and CEO, John Locke Foundation
Lindsay Boyd Killen, Vice President for Strategic Outreach and Communications, Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Brent Mead, CEO, Montana Policy Institute
Pete Sepp, President, National Taxpayers Union
Paul Gessing, President, Rio Grande Foundation
Richard M. Esenberg, President/General Counsel, Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty

CC: Mr. Wilbur Ross Secretary
Department of Commerce

CC: Mr. Gary Cohn Director
National Economic Council

CC: Peter Navarro Director
White House National Trade Council

Another example of the harm done by protectionism is the effort to convince President Trump to reverse the open skies agreements. Open skies are segments between countries that allow air routes to be set by airline companies instead of by governments.

Big airlines which befit from government control of the air routes are lobbying the Trump administration to reverse the open skies agreement. But open skies brings new tourism and commerce to the United States, and creates approximately 50,000 jobs.

Campaign for Liberty members should call President Trump at 202-456-1111 and tell him to preserve open skies.

Read more about Open Skies here and here.