AFP: Trade Security Act is a Step in the Right Direction

Feb 6, 2019 by AFP

ARLINGTON, Va. – Americans for Prosperity announced support for Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Rep. Ron Kind’s (D-Wisc.) bipartisan Trade Security Act introduced in both chambers of Congress Wednesday. This legislation is a welcome move to update the procedure for levying Section 232 tariffs for national security reasons and to allow more tariff actions to undergo the scrutiny of a Congressional disapproval vote.

Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips had this to say:

“With each new tariff, American workers, businesses and consumers face what is essentially higher taxes that undermine economic expansion and job growth. The bipartisan Trade Security Act will allow Congress to provide a check on new tariffs. We support the efforts of Sen. Portman, Rep. Kind and other lawmakers from both parties pursuing legislation to provide congressional review and approval of tariff increases. Our ultimate goal should be the elimination of all protectionist policies. This legislation is a step in the right direction.”

Background:

AFP and Freedom Partners Join Coalition Urging Restoration of Congressional Tariff Authority

AFP, CF&P Urge USTR to Forge Free and Open Trade Pact between U.S and the U.K

AFP Calls on Washington to Lower Trade Barriers, Not Create New Ones with the Reciprocal Trade Act

Trade Principles

The United States should eliminate all trade barriers, regardless of other countries’ trade policies, in order to provide Americans lower prices, more jobs and bigger paychecks, and to drive innovation through competition.
Individuals and businesses in a competitive market, not government bureaucrats or politicians, should guide trade decisions.
Punitive measures such as tariffs and quotas are an unjust government intrusion into the lives of hardworking Americans. They violate the property and associational rights of individuals and should all be eliminated.
Subsidies and other forms of government supports for powerful and politically connected businesses and industries do not create value. They punish consumers, burden taxpayers, insulate businesses from market competition, and should be eliminated.
Trade disputes should be resolved through existing international trade agreements and organizations.
While national security interests may be a consideration in trade policy, they should be used to restrict trade only when there is truly a narrow national security interest at stake, not as a workaround to impose tariffs.

For further information or to set up an interview, please send an email to GBraud@afphq.org.

Through broad-based grassroots outreach, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is driving long-term solutions to the country’s biggest problems. AFP activists engage friends and neighbors on key issues and encourage them to take an active role in building a culture of mutual benefit, where people succeed by helping one another. AFP recruits and unites activists in 35 states behind a common goal of advancing policies that will help people improve their lives. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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