'Whose throat do I get to choke?' Republican demands tariff accountability

Whose throat do I get to choke if this proves to be wrong

And I loved your fancy Greek formula, which was basically bad math on steroids

The U.S. trade representative was forced to defend President Trump's tariffs before Congress

where he took criticism from all sides and reiterated, it's a long-term strategy to drive down U.S. trade deficits with countries around the world

and he says the plan is already working. Companies have announced $4 trillion in new investment in the United States

Nearly 50 countries have approached me personally to discuss the president's new policy and

explore how to achieve reciprocity, and they've spoken with many members of the administration

That was not enough for senators who have seen the three major stock indices drop about

9% each, read about the EU, Canada, and China preparing retaliatory tariffs, and heard from

their constituents, who are consumers and business owners alike, that can't afford price increases

But it just seems like we've decided to begin a trade war on all fronts

And that's OK if the person who thought this through has an answer for why you go after

partners that we have a very long story relationship with. Maybe we give some developing countries a break because we're trying to actually get

their economies functioning, make them look to the West versus the Chinese investment

The senators also questioned how the Trump administration plans to handle negotiations with 50 countries all at once, given the timetable for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement that was negotiated during the first Trump administration

We did it at breakneck speed. We did it in about two years. Two years And now you telling us you have nearly 50 countries coming to you approaching you to enter in a negotiation And you think that you can do that overnight Right India Man you pretty superhuman here if that the case So let be realistic There will be a minimum 10 percent duty on all countries including those that already have trade

agreements with the United States and those who are key defense and intelligence partners in NATO

and the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance, the world's most advanced intelligence gathering

coalition. The United States and Australia already have a free trade agreement, and they're both

members of Five Eyes. Senator Mark Warner could not understand why an ally like that would get a

tariff. We already have a free trade agreement. We have a trade surplus. So getting the least bad

why did they get whacked in the first place? We're addressing the $1.2 trillion deficit

the largest in human history that President Biden left us with. We should be running up the score in Australia. Ambassador Clear, answer the question on Australia. We have a trade surplus

us with Australia. We have a free trade agreement. Why? They are incredibly important national

security partner. Why were they whacked with a tariff? Senator, despite the agreement

they ban our beef, they ban our pork. There's also concern that retaliatory tariffs will be

targeted to certain industries, just as China did when it responded to President Trump's 2018

tariffs with duties on U.S. soybeans in a tit for tat that ultimately cost U.S. agriculture $27

billion dollars. On balance, I would say most of my constituents are supportive and they recognize

that some turbulence might be required in order to end up in a better spot and reset trade relations

Greer was repeatedly asked what businesses should do if they can't afford the extra costs

He said the president is not making any exemptions and that businesses need to work with their

suppliers and customers to figure it out. I'm Ray Bogan for Straight Arrow News

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