USMCA used to be “a fair deal for everybody”
Back when Trump rebranded NAFTA as “USMCE,” here’s what he said about it:
“We have negotiated this new agreement based on the principle of fairness and reciprocity…. This is a terrific deal for all of us….This new deal will be the most modern, up-to-date, and balanced trade agreement in the history of our country…. With this agreement, we are closing all of these terrible loopholes. They’re closed. They’re gone. They were a disaster…. We are requiring a large portion of every car to be made by high-wage workers, which will greatly reduce foreign outsourcing…. This deal will also impose new standards requiring at least 75 percent of every automobile to be made in North America…. This landmark agreement will send cash and jobs pouring into the United States…. We formed a great partnership with Mexico and with Canada…. It’s a fair deal for everybody.”
Now he’s going to slap tariffs on Mexico and Canada because USMCA is unfair? Whose fault is that? He’s making a mockery of his own USMCA, showing that his signature on anything is worth exactly nothing.
Back when Trump’s USMCA was “great”
Joel:
That would be correct. But who amongst the population is going to remember he wrote the original act that he is replacing? Perhaps another ploy to gain some concession.
In any case, he has a new shiny object to catch. Gollum from the Lord of the Rings would be his best image.
Many of us, I suspect, do. (See my comment a few days ago taking the same swipe in, as usual, a much less dignified manner.)
But Trump’s last tariff war–which made my new washer and dryer at the time cost about $125 more–goes into the Faux News memory hole, never to be spoken of again. And we can see from current polls that there is a plurality of people who will rate the same economy as better if their person has been elected. (In the real world, the Inflation Reduction Act–you’ll never believe it–reduced inflation.)
Americans Change Their Tune on Economy
Ken:
Without Biden’s American Rescue Plan, where would they be? Such short memories. Of course, you remember. Few of us here forget what happened. Happy to see your cognizant commentaries at AB. Thank you Ken.