Mike Pence on Tariffs: American Consumers Pay the Price

Constitutional Challenge to Presidential Tariffs

• 🏛️ Mike Pence expresses hope that the Supreme Court will rule against the President's unilateral use of tariffs, citing the Constitution's Article 1, Section 8, which reserves the power to enact taxes and tariffs for Congress.
• 📜 He highlights that the founders intended to prevent any single person from imposing import tariffs, emphasizing the role of elected representatives.
• ⚖️ Pence's foundation has filed briefs arguing that the President's use of emergency statutes to impose tariffs is unconstitutional.

Economic Impact of Tariffs

• 💸 Pence asserts that American businesses and consumers ultimately bear the cost of American tariffs, not foreign entities.
• 📉 He points to the recent administration decision to lift tariffs on coffee and beef as evidence that tariffs can increase prices, contributing to inflation.
• 📈 The former VP believes the American people are increasingly aware of these economic impacts.

Tariffs as Negotiation Tools vs. Economic Policy

• 🤝 Pence recalls that during his administration, tariffs and the threat of tariffs were used strategically to negotiate down trade barriers and subsidies, citing the negotiation of the USMCA with Canada and Mexico.
• 🌍 He believes in free trade with free nations as a path to global prosperity, with the notable exception of China due to its history of trade abuses and intellectual property theft.
• 🗣️ Pence advocates for a firm stance on China while promoting open trade with other free nations.