Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., lambasted President Trump’s decision to slap tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union.
“This is dumb,” Sasse said. “Europe, Canada, and Mexico are not China, and you don’t treat allies the same way you treat opponents. We’ve been down this road before. Blanket protectionism is a big part of why America had a Great Depression.”
“‘Make America great again’ shouldn’t mean ‘make America 1929 again,'” Sasse added.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced that tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum would be imposed at midnight after more than two months of negotiations.
The U.S. initially granted exemptions to Canada, Mexico and the EU in March in an attempt to negotiate better deals with the allies. June 1 was the deadline to strike a new agreement.
Sasse has been an outspoken critic of the president and, in particular, his push to impose tariffs. In early April, the Nebraska Republican called it “nuts” for Trump to impose $100 billion on China in tariffs the early stages of his trade discussion.
