No to Extremism...
Yes to Progress
ECONOMY
& TRADE
Millions of lost jobs, vanishing industries, massive trade deficits.. All solvable. Here is a plan to end trade vulnerability to other countries. We present an economic plan from outsourcing to clean energy to restoring domestic manufacturing and decreasing outsourcing.
Trade. Products from microchips to medicines can be made here. Restoring lost industries requires better trade agreements and punitive tariffs to reduce trade deficits. Economists estimate each billion dollars in trade deficits caused thousands of lost jobs. The 2022 trade deficit with China was $367 billion.
Protect Dollar as Currency Reserve. The dollar as international currency reserve is crucial to our economy. Russia and China try to undermine the dollar. We must prevent such a setback.
Solar/Tidal/Hydro Energy. A bold plan: solar panels and batteries on EVERY rooftop within 20 years and government programs to make it happen. Promote tidal/hydro energy from sea tides for clean energy. Sell such technology internationally for massive jobs creation. Let us be a nation of innovation and not let it be outsourced and sent abroad.
Rare Earths. Rare earths are imported from China. We must restore local rare earth mines as a matter of national security to end vulnerability and ensure a stable supply line of ores essential to new technologies.
Level Playing Field. Penalize abusive foreign labor practices. Require countries to raise salaries and labor benefits in return for the privilege of selling products here and most favorable trade status. If you treat workers miserably, we will not buy your products. It’s good trade policy.
Punish Cheating. Require violating countries (and complicit American corporations) to raise labor standards: a 5-10 year transition period with yearly incremental improvements. Offending countries agree to a phase-in plan for full compliance over an agreed upon period.
Low Wages. A motivation for outsourcing is low labor costs - workers paid poorly, minimal health or retirement benefits. American corporations participate in such abuse. The result is trade deficits, millions of lost jobs, and loss of industries. A smart mix of tariffs and punitive takes us far.
Most Favored Status (MFS). In return for MFS and access to American markets, countries must abide to fairness else tariffs will increase annually to such a point that a violating country’s products will be too expensive to sell in America. Doing this over time may slash trade deficits, excessive outsourcing, job loss, and supply chains vulnerable to foreign countries.
Polluting. Many countries are lenient about pollution. That’s cheating when it comes to free trade. Polluting water or sky is a shameful way to cut costs. Coal and filth put in the air by China and others ends up in America. Trade agreements must include the environment.
Outsourcing and vanished industries brought widespread anger and mounting menace from China. Free trade advocates may resist tariffs, but if we don’t stop unfair trade practices and labor abuse, we will not level the playing field. Decline benefiting China is not acceptable.