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I was a supporter of Bernie and he planned to do the same thing, for basically the same reasons. He didn't pick this unilaterally either, the Commerce departmen

by dahdum 9y ago

I was a supporter of Bernie and he planned to do the same thing, for basically the same reasons. He didn't pick this unilaterally either, the Commerce department recommended it.

smt88 9y ago
Do you have links where we can read about this? I can't find evidence that Bernie advocated tariffs at these levels. I know he spoke against "unfettered free trade" and new agreements like TPP, but I remember him talking more about taxing the import of labor (US companies using foreign labor) more than materials (US companies importing goods). It also looks like the Commerce Dept was staunchly against this idea in 2016[1]. 1. https://news.vice.com/article/trumps-views-on-trade-are-closer-to-bernie-sanders-than-the-republican-party https://news.vice.com/article/trumps-views-on-trade-are-clos...
- kombucha2 9y ago
  According to USA Today Bernie did say that [1][His campaign says Sanders also would impose countervailing tariffs on imports from China and Japan “until they stop dumping steel into the United States and stop manipulating their currencies.”] 1.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/03/31/bernie-sanders-pledges-rewrite-disastrous-trade-deals/82473012/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016...
- dahdum 9y ago
  Good summary of positions here, though doesn’t note steel directly. http://www.ontheissues.org/International/Bernie_Sanders_Free_Trade.htm http://www.ontheissues.org/International/Bernie_Sanders_Free... Trump/Bernie very close on trade policy: http://www.politifact.com/north-carolina/statements/2016/jul/27/donald-trump/donald-trump-says-he-and-bernie-sanders-are-very-s/ http://www.politifact.com/north-carolina/statements/2016/jul... Both of them appealed strongly to blue collar workers because these positions on trade, Sanders would have won hands down against Trump if not for the rigged primaries. IIRC, Biden has a similar mindset, and definitely can speak to Trump’s base in a way that Clinton (“deplorables”...) could not. Of the dem contenders so far, he’s the best chance of winning in 2020 imo.
zbyte64 9y ago
I too was a supporter of Bernie and cringed at similar proposals. I guess I just figured all the other candidates were amenable to reason and when put in this position would make a more measured gesture.

by dahdum 9y ago

I was a supporter of Bernie and he planned to do the same thing, for basically the same reasons. He didn't pick this unilaterally either, the Commerce department recommended it.

smt88 9y ago

Do you have links where we can read about this? I can't find evidence that Bernie advocated tariffs at these levels. I know he spoke against "unfettered free trade" and new agreements like TPP, but I remember him talking more about taxing the import of labor (US companies using foreign labor) more than materials (US companies importing goods). It also looks like the Commerce Dept was staunchly against this idea in 2016[1]. 1. https://news.vice.com/article/trumps-views-on-trade-are-closer-to-bernie-sanders-than-the-republican-party https://news.vice.com/article/trumps-views-on-trade-are-clos...

kombucha2 9y ago
According to USA Today Bernie did say that [1][His campaign says Sanders also would impose countervailing tariffs on imports from China and Japan “until they stop dumping steel into the United States and stop manipulating their currencies.”] 1.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/03/31/bernie-sanders-pledges-rewrite-disastrous-trade-deals/82473012/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016...
dahdum 9y ago
Good summary of positions here, though doesn’t note steel directly. http://www.ontheissues.org/International/Bernie_Sanders_Free_Trade.htm http://www.ontheissues.org/International/Bernie_Sanders_Free... Trump/Bernie very close on trade policy: http://www.politifact.com/north-carolina/statements/2016/jul/27/donald-trump/donald-trump-says-he-and-bernie-sanders-are-very-s/ http://www.politifact.com/north-carolina/statements/2016/jul... Both of them appealed strongly to blue collar workers because these positions on trade, Sanders would have won hands down against Trump if not for the rigged primaries. IIRC, Biden has a similar mindset, and definitely can speak to Trump’s base in a way that Clinton (“deplorables”...) could not. Of the dem contenders so far, he’s the best chance of winning in 2020 imo.

zbyte64 9y ago

I too was a supporter of Bernie and cringed at similar proposals. I guess I just figured all the other candidates were amenable to reason and when put in this position would make a more measured gesture.