Whatever your case is today, here's more for you to chew on:
While [Reagan was] president, he declared in 1986: "Our trade policy rests firmly on the foundation of free and open markets. I recognize ... the inescapable conclusion that all of history has taught: The freer the flow of world trade, the stronger the tides of human progress and peace among nations."It was the Reagan administration that launched the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations in 1986 that lowered global tariffs and created the World Trade Organization. It was his administration that won approval of the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement in 1988. That agreement soon expanded to include Mexico in what became the North American Free Trade Agreement, realizing a vision that Reagan first articulated in the 1980 campaign. It was Reagan who vetoed protectionist textile quota bills in 1985 and 1988.
During Reagan's eight years in office, Americans eagerly expanded their engagement in the global economy. In 1980, the year before Reagan became president, Americans spent a total of $334 billion on imported goods and services and payments on foreign investment in the United States. By 1988, his last year in office, American spending in the global economy had nearly doubled, to $663 billion. If Reagan was a "protectionist," it had no discernable effect on the ability of Americans to spend freely in the global marketplace. Fittingly, one of the major federal buildings on Pennsylvania Avenue is named the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
Like most post-war presidents, Reagan championed free trade while selectively deviating from it. Critics of trade note correctly that Reagan negotiated "voluntary" import quotas for steel and Japanese cars and imposed Section 201 tariffs on imported motorcycles to protect Harley-Davidson. All true. But those were the exceptions and not the rule. They were tactical retreats designed to defuse rising protectionists pressures in Congress.
Bear in mind that the Democrats controlled Congress before you go off on another tangent.
I remind you, I haven't made any claims. You are stretching and streching that point, for whatever reason. Now why don't you go spend saturday night with your family.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
SUBJECT: Motorcycle Import Relief Determination
Pursuant to Section 202 (b) (1) of the Trade Act of 1974
(P.L. 93-618, 88 Stat. 1978), I have determined the action I
will take with respect to the report of the United States
International Trade Commission (USITC), transmitted to me on
February 1, 1983, concerning the results of its investigation
of a petition for import relief filed by the Harley-Davidson
Motor Co., Inc., and Harley-Davidson York, Inc., producers of
heavyweight motorcycles, provided for in item 692.50 of the
Tariff Schedules of the United States (TSUS) .
After considering all relevant aspects of the case, including
those set forth in Section 202(c) of the Trade Act of 1974, I
have determined that granting import relief is consistent with
our national economic interest. Therefore, I will proclaim
the USITC five-year import relief remedy with one modification.
I will impose tariff increases of 45 percent ad valorem in the
first year, declining to 35, 20, 15 and 10 percent above
scheduled rates in subsequent years. Imposition cf these
tariff increases should allow the heavyweight motorcycle
industry to adjust to the threat of injury caused by increased
imports, which have raised inventories to twice their normal
level.
To assure small volume producers who have not contributed to
that threat of injury continued access to U.S. markets for
heavyweight motorcycles, I will modify the USITC remedy by
proclaiming tariff-rate quotas of 5,000 units (increasing
yearly to 6,000, 7,00C, 8,500 and 10,000) for imports of
motorcycles manufactured in the Federal Republic of Germany,
and 4,000 units (increasing yearly by 1,000) for imports from
all other countries except Japan. The additional duties will
apply to all imports above the tariff-rate quotas. In order
to treat Japan fairly I will also proclaim a tariff-rate quota
of 6,000 units (increasing 1,000 yearly) for motorcycles
imported from Japan.
I also direct you to keep the issue under close review so
that, should the U.S. motorcycle industry no longer need this
level of relief, you may, in consultation with the Trade
Policy Committee, obtain other necessary advice and propose
changes in the terms of relief. If no earlier review is
initiated by such conditions, you are to undertake such a
review in two years. The objectives of this review would be
to assess the effectiveness of import relief and
Harley-Davidson's trade adjustment efforts.
--Ronald Reagan