Conservative statesmen from Alexander Hamilton to Ronald Reagan sometimes supported protectionism, and at other times, they leaned toward lowering barriers. But they always understood that trade policy was merely a tool for building a strong and independent country with a prosperous middle class. Robert Lighthizer Read Quote
I agree with President Trump that we should have an America First trade policy. Robert Lighthizer Read Quote
Every Republican president starting with Lincoln – and for almost 100 years thereafter – generally supported tariffs, while Democrats tended to promote free trade. Robert Lighthizer Read Quote
How does allowing China to constantly rig trade in its favor advance the core conservative goal of making markets more efficient? Robert Lighthizer Read Quote
Modern free-traders… embrace their ideal with a passion that makes Robespierre seem prudent. They embrace unbridled free trade, even as it helps China become a superpower. Robert Lighthizer Read Quote
Markets do not run better when manufacturing shifts to China largely because of the actions of its government. Nor do they become more efficient when Chinese companies are given special privileges in global markets, while American companies must struggle to compete with unfairly traded goods. Robert Lighthizer Read Quote
Years of passivity and drift among U.S. policymakers have allowed the U.S. – China trade deficit to grow to the point where is widely recognized as a major threat to our economy. Robert Lighthizer Read Quote
While never the darling of pure free traders, measures to combat dumping, subsidies, and injurious import surges have always been deemed essential by open economies like the United States to maintain support for trade. Robert Lighthizer Read Quote
It is hard for me to understand why we tolerate so many barriers to agriculture trade when America is the No. 1 producer of agriculture products. I think opening up markets – more markets for agricultural sales is a very high priority for us. Robert Lighthizer Read Quote
Unlike national legal systems, there are precious few avenues to address judicial activism at the WTO. You pretty much have to gain consensus to change the agreements, or simply withdraw from the system. The first is nearly impossible, and the second would be – in the view of many – cataclysmic. Robert Lighthizer Read Quote
