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Last fall, Donald Trump repeatedly promised that if elected he would lower prices "On DAY ONE." But since taking office, he has done exactly the opposite.
Economists and business leaders warned him that steep import taxes would raise prices on American families. Trump insisted that other countries would pay, but in reality, American importers pay the tariffs, passing most of the cost on to consumers - as much as several thousand dollars a year.
"WILL THERE BE SOME PAIN?" the President wrote. "YES, MAYBE (AND MAYBE NOT!)"
Experts also cautioned that foreign governments could retaliate by imposing tariffs on American exports, hurting U.S. farmers, manufacturers, and workers. In addition, they disputed the President's claim that a trade war would create American jobs.
Trump ignored them all - imposing large tariffs on almost every country on earth, including most of our closest allies, as well as some territories that are scarcely inhabited. Other countries retaliated with stiff tariffs on American goods.
The President has shown little concern for how American families would be affected by a global trade war. As the stock market fell more than 10% and the risk of recession increased, he flew to Florida to play in a golf tournament.
"HANG TOUGH," Trump wrote from Mar-a-Lago, apparently conceding that we're in for a rough ride. "It won't be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
Hang tough? Given the President's record so far, we should be worried.
JOAN L. MOREAU
Lewisburg
Submitted by email