Bernie Sanders Finally Responds to Trump Feeling the Bern on Tariffs

[TomCADem]

It has been over a week since Trump adopted (stole) Bernie Sander's proposal to impose tariffs on imported steel. This has been one of Bernie's key proposals along with proposals to renegotiate NAFTA. In recent weeks, Trump has started to feel the Bern by threatening to impose tariffs and using those threats as leverage to renegotiate NAFTA.

http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/05/news/economy/trump-steel-aluminum-tariffs-support/index.html

Who likes the kinds of tariffs that President Donald Trump has proposed on steel and aluminum? Usually it's groups that are pretty critical of the Trump administration.

For example, the United Steelworkers union and the AFL-CIO were among the strongest supporters of the proposal. Both unions opposed Trump during the election, and both have fought most of his administration's efforts, such as tax reform.

* * *

Even some Democratic politicians praised Trump's actions, including Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio. "This welcome action is long overdue for shuttered steel plants across Ohio and steelworkers who live in fear that their jobs will be the next victims of Chinese cheating," said Brown's statement. "If we fail to stand up for steel jobs today, China will come after other jobs up and down the supply chain tomorrow."

Senator Bernie Sanders promised to impose tariffs on China "until they stop dumping steel into the United States" during his 2016 presidential campaign, but his office declined to comment on Trump's tariff proposal.

[democratisphere]

1. Brilliant.

[David__77]

2. Of only Trump would steal the whole Sanders program.

I’d like that.

[TomCADem]

3. Surprised That Trump Did Not Limit Tariff to Non-White Countries?

For example, even though he likes to bash China on steel, most imported steel coming into the U.S. comes from Canada. China is only the tenth largest importer of steel to the U.S. Still, I could see Trump just scapegoating non-white countries, and exempting Canada, which only operate to give Canada a huge advantage.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-factbox/factbox-top-steel-exporters-to-the-united-states-idUSKCN1GE10I

1. Canada 16.7 percent

2. Brazil 13.2 percent

3. South Korea 9.7 percent

4. Mexico 9.4 percent

5. Russia 8.1 percent

6. Turkey 5.6 percent

7. Japan 4.9 percent

8. Germany 3.7 percent

9. Taiwan 3.2 percent

10. China 2.9 percent

11. India 2.4 percent

[wasupaloopa]

4. What did Sanders say? I saw other people with opnions but missed Bernie's.

[TomCADem]

5. Bernie Sanders Is Affirmatively Sitting This Out When Trump is Feeling the Bern

This should be Bernie Sander's moment of triumph. Indeed, just a few weeks ago, Bernie was also proposing that Trump play hard ball in addition to imposing tariffs on steel. Yet, Bernie is now suddenly going radio silent even as Trump increasingly feels the Bern. Heck, even the Steelworkers are jumping on the tariff bandwagon as is his son. Yet, all Bernie offers is a "no comment" when he should be basking in the glory instead of letting Trump take credit for Bernie's proposals.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-13/bernie-sanders-to-trump-on-nafta-for-once-keep-your-promise

Bernie Sanders Tells Trump to Keep His Promise on Nafta

President Donald Trump is finding an unlikely ally in his efforts to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement: the political left.

Civil-society groups, union leaders and left-wing politicians have opposed almost everything Trump has done. But they’re urging him to stand firm in his attempt to overhaul Nafta -- and face down opposition from business groups, who complain that U.S. companies will be hurt by the proposed changes. Mexico and Canada have called U.S. demands unworkable, including on regional-content requirements for cars and investor-state dispute systems.

Senator Bernie Sanders, an outspoken critic of trade deals in his campaign for president last year, called on Trump to deliver. “When Donald Trump campaigned for president, he promised that he was going to stop corporations from shifting American jobs to Mexico,” Sanders said Wednesday at a rally for the #ReplaceNafta movement in Washington. “For once in your life, keep your promises.”

[LexVegas]

6. Courageous. nt

[melman]

7. How sad

That you feel the need to do this. I mean it's really sad.

[QC]

9. Weird, too. n/t

[TomCADem]

10. How Odd That You Are Fine...

...with Bernie’s silence on this.

Shoot, private citizen Hillary Clinton and President Obama’s got lit up for delaying a day or so to condemn Harvey Weinstein. Yet, the future Democratic nominee can’t be bothered to comment but on a signature issue.

Next thing you know, Trump will have nothing to say about immigration.

[R B Garr]

8. Thank you for bringing attention to this. His silence

is quite contradictory.