Paying a price for steel tariffs

Washington Times ^ | Monday, March 31, 2003 | Bruce Bartlett

[JohnHuang2]

Little more than a year ago, on March 5, 2002, President Bush made a serious mistake by imposing tariffs on

[JohnHuang2]

Monday, March 31, 2003

Quote of the Day by Texas Eagle

[Sonny M]

Personally, I supported the tariffs only because, other countries were (and most still are) using subsidies for there own steel industries, and it wasn't a level playing field. I oppose subsidies, which I think sometimes forces tarrifs to be used as a counter balance. If there were no subsidies, we could drop the tarrifs, and engage more in line with the idea of open and free trade.

[SWake]

All I know is the tin for my barn went from $7 to $11 per sheet. I still need the new roof, but don't have the extra $4 per sheet (nor the time to get the job done, but that is neither here nor there).

[fporretto]

Economically, the tariffs were indeed a bad idea. But Dubya was caught on the horns of a dilemma. He'd promised assistance to the steel industry as part of his campaign pledges. That promise helped him in several Rust Belt states; it might have been enough to gain him the victory. So he had to choose between economic rationality and breaking his given word.

Myself, I'm glad he kept his word. I'd rather be able to trust the president to do what he's said he'll do, even on bad ideas, than have to worry all the time about a disjunction between his public statements and the policies he'll eventually back. I had enough of that from Clinton and Bush the Elder to last me the rest of my life.

Besides, isn't there an expiration date on those tariffs?

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
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