During her address at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the proposal to impose tariffs on foreign imports in order to benefit domestic manufacturers.
“And all the while, he intends to enact what is in effect a national sales tax — call it a ‘Trump tax’ — that would raise prices on middle class families by almost $4,000 a year,” Harris said.
Harris’s statement pertains to the policy framework established by former President Donald Trump, which advocates for the implementation of universal tariffs on all foreign imports. This initiative aims to enhance domestic manufacturing and safeguard American jobs and wages from unfair competition, particularly from subsidized foreign products.
In her critique of U.S. tariffs, Harris draws upon arguments from the National Taxpayers Union, an organization that promotes libertarian principles and champions unrestricted free trade while opposing tariffs. As noted by John Carney of Breitbart, Harris’s assertion that tariffs function as a national sales tax increase is inaccurate. Research indicates that there is minimal evidence suggesting that American consumers bear the cost of tariffs; instead, it is primarily foreign importers who are affected.
Harris’s opposition to U.S. tariffs carries significant risks, as prominent Democrats in Congress, including Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow from Michigan, along with various labor unions and a substantial portion of Democratic voters, support certain tariffs instituted by Trump that have been maintained by President Joe Biden. These groups advocate for the expansion of such tariffs. For example, the United Auto Workers (UAW) is actively seeking an increase in tariffs on foreign automobiles to protect American jobs and wages in the auto industry.
A recent YouGov survey revealed that nearly 60% of Democratic voters favor maintaining or increasing the current U.S. tariffs.
