Trade Agreements and Tariffs

Trade Agreements and Tariffs

I support agreements that promote the healthy and fair exchange of goods, protect jobs in Ohio and across the country, and safeguard intellectual property.  These agreements must provide for a living wage and safe, humane working conditions in the countries involved.  A fairer world is a more prosperous world, and we must lead by example.  If we improve the economy of our trade partners, more people can afford to buy our goods and we all benefit.

Tariffs are not paid by foreign countries. They are taxes on the importers of foreign goods, and businesses in turn pass this added cost onto the consumer.  The intent is to discourage consumers from buying certain imported products, but with so much manufacturing done in other countries, we often do not have that option. While tariffs make sense in some cases, in others cases, we need to negotiate agreements that compel trading partners to buy from us.