WASHINGTON (AP) — As criticism of President Donald Trump’s tariffs intensifies among Democrats, party leaders are emphasizing that their position is not inherently anti-tariff.
Instead, they argue that it is the chaos that Trump has unleashed that concerns them most.
“Tariffs are an important tool in our economic toolbox,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
“Trump is creating chaos, and that chaos undercuts our economy and our families, both in the short term and the long term.
… He’s just created a worldwide hurricane, and that’s not good for anyone.”
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., echoed this sentiment, noting a consensus among Democrats: “a unified concept, which is targeted tariffs can work, across the board tariffs are bad.”
Kaine emphasized that while there is a debate about what constitutes ‘the right targeting,’ there is no Democratic support for the idea of zero tariffs.
The message from Democrats aims to portray them as reasonable and capable of governance, particularly to swing voters interested in fostering manufacturing while wary of the outcomes of Trump’s tariff strategies.
Yet, this nuanced stance presents risks in a political landscape where quick sound bites often overshadow detailed policy discussions.
In response, the Trump administration paints the Democrats’ position as hypocritical.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted a warning from Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., back in June 1996, where she cautioned that trade with China could lead to increased trade deficits and job losses.
Pelosi’s 1996 remarks came as the House voted not to overturn then-Democratic President Bill Clinton’s decision to extend most-favored-nation trade status for China for one more year.
Leavitt argued that these comments support the notion that Democrats quietly endorse the direction in which Trump is taking trade policy.
“Everyone in Washington, whether they want to admit it or not, knows that this president is right when it comes to tariffs and when it comes to trade,” Leavitt told reporters, adding that “Nancy Pelosi can thank President Trump today.”
Not all Democrats have articulated their stance on tariffs with the same level of clarity.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, during a speech in Washington, referred to targeting tariffs as a tool to be used like a “scalpel.”
However, just hours later, she found herself in the Oval Office with Trump, where he directed the Justice Department to investigate his public critics and made vague statements regarding tariff negotiations.
Whitmer’s office later clarified that her attendance at the event should not be interpreted as an endorsement of Trump’s actions or statements made during it.
This month, Trump unilaterally imposed sweeping tariffs on China, the European Union, Mexico, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and other nations.
Despite this, on Wednesday, he suspended most of the tariffs for 90 days while applying a baseline import tax of 10% on most countries, along with a 145% tariff on Chinese goods and up to a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada.
Additionally, there are tariffs on autos, steel, and aluminum, with plans for further tariffs on specific products.
The expected revenue from these tariffs could reach hundreds of billions of dollars annually; however, average U.S. households may see disposable income decline by over $4,000 as businesses pass on costs related to these levies.
Concerns about the sustainability of Trump’s policies are growing, evidenced by rising interest rates on U.S. debt and a decrease in major stock indexes.
Recent consumer sentiment surveys indicate levels at the second lowest recorded in the history of the University of Michigan survey.
Some Democrats are trying to shift the focus to their constituents’ struggles, reviving arguments regarding the potential impact of Trump’s tariff battles experienced during his first term.
For instance, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., pointed out that farmers already heavily impacted by Trump’s previous trade wars are fearful for the future of their businesses.
“These are mostly small and medium-sized family farms.
Their input costs are going to go up, and their export markets are going to close down,” Baldwin stated.
Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., expressed concern as well, suggesting the tariffs could be “catastrophic” for both urban and rural communities in her state.
However, Moore also emphasized that Democrats should still push for raising labor and product standards to keep American goods and services competitive globally.
“I know that many of our autoworkers were lured into voting for Donald Trump because they thought perhaps he was going to give them some relief,” Moore noted.
“But the prices of cars are going to go up because the component parts are everywhere.
There’s no strategy for it.”
In contrast, some Democrats prefer a more direct response to Trump’s policies.
“I’m a little uninterested in what the Democratic response should be like,” remarked Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii.
“Trump is intentionally destroying the American economy, and I think we should just say that and not make it very complicated.”
image source from：https://apnews.com/article/trump-democrats-chaos-tariffs-trade-2f39f7be95d34008155f4ee29eb67235
