U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has penned an op-ed in Newsweek last week, asserting that President Donald Trump’s recently implemented “Liberation Day” tariffs are already yielding positive results for Alabama’s manufacturers, businesses, workers, and producers.
In his piece, Senator Tuberville highlights the tariffs, which target over 180 countries and territories, and the subsequent “meltdown” that ensued. He argues that Trump’s strategy, far from being chaotic, demonstrates his mastery of negotiation and leverage.
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“It’s been two weeks since President Donald Trump announced tariffs on more than 180 countries and territories that have been ripping us off for decades. A full-blown meltdown followed that day,” Tuberville wrote. “But those of us who have been following President Trump for a long time knew better than to panic. The president is a master negotiator—and if there’s one thing he understands, it’s how to create leverage.”
Tuberville claims that the leverage is evident in the number of countries, over 75, that have expressed a desire to renegotiate trade deals with the United States to avoid the tariffs. He criticizes Democrats and the media for their negative reactions, suggesting they prioritize American failure over Trump’s success.
The senator emphasized the economic impact on Alabama, particularly regarding unfair trade practices by countries like Vietnam and India.
“In Alabama, we have seen some of the effects firsthand. For years, Vietnamese and Indian exporters have been adulterating honey with cane, rice, and corn sweeteners before dumping it on the U.S. domestic market,” Tuberville stated. “Additionally, Vietnam has been dumping billions of dollars’ worth of catfish from sewage-polluted water into U.S. markets, while India is doing the same with shrimp—flooding the markets and driving down prices for our high-quality domestic products. Alabama’s honey, catfish, and shrimp producers have had a hard time competing as a result.”
He asserts that the mere threat of tariffs has brought Vietnam and India to the negotiating table, offering hope for a more level playing field for Alabama producers. Tuberville also notes the broader trend of over 75 countries seeking negotiations, which led to Trump’s 90-day pause on most tariffs, with a 10 percent blanket duty on nearly all U.S. imports.
Regarding China, Tuberville acknowledges the country’s retaliatory tariffs but expresses confidence in Trump’s resolve. He believes China faces a choice between renegotiating a fair trade deal or facing further consequences.
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“China is a different beast. When President Trump levied heavy tariffs on China, he made it clear that if Beijing retaliated, the tariffs will escalate,” Tuberville wrote. “Predictably, China didn’t back down—it imposed steep retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. But if China thinks it can intimidate President Trump, it should think again. China has a choice here—it can either renegotiate a fair trade deal, or it can pay the piper. My money is on President Trump to win in the end.”
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