P. J. O'Rourke Quotes

When someone says, `Let's impose tariffs on foreign imports,' it looks like they're doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes for a short while it works - but only for a short time....over the long run such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer. Markets shrink and collapse; businesses and industries shut down; and millions of people lose their jobs.

Trade has suddenly become massively unpopular. I think that's massively unjust. I think free trade has been wonderful for America on balance.

Unfortunately, the United States has entered into several free trade agreements that do not sufficiently protect and support our manufacturing industries and the millions of American workers they employ.

Now, given the experience that we have had thus far, with our subsequent trade agreements with NAFTA and others, you would think that with our experience of job loss that we have had there that when you find yourself in a hole that you might stop digging.

Before we move forward with new efforts to lower the barriers to international free trade, we must review the consequences of the policies of the past and address the problems of the present.

Beneficial in theory, so-called free trade agreements far too often have been detrimental to the United States economy and the manufacturing sector that forms its central pillar.

Free tariff or no tariff would close up our manufactories by the scores.

The effect of Bill Clinton's NAFTA and Hillary Clinton's Colombian Free Trade Agreement has been devastating to Michigan and most of the rest of the country, and accounts for the appeal of Donald Trump.

Unfettered free trade has led to a disaster.

I've seen the impact of poorly negotiated trade agreements on manufacturing in Maine.

In Illinois, we've seen job losses from agreements like CAFTA and NAFTA. Those agreements didn't help American workers - and they haven't brought improvements to the lives of workers in other countries, either.

It is not good to cut exports or imports.

Now, what produces a want of demand? A refusal to take from other countries the commodities which they produce.

I predicted in 1950 that in five years, manufacturers the world over would be screaming for protection. It took only four years.

The United States has means to wound Latin American countries deeply, chiefly by altering trade policies to cut imports in ways that would throw thousands out of work.

NAFTA and GATT have about as much to do with free trade as the Patriot Act has to do with liberty.

Trade helps bring us products cheaply, but there is no guarantee whatsoever to assume that it will allow us to replace the jobs that have been lost, and there is no mechanism under productivity that says that, either.

Unfair trade agreements, passed by both Republicans and Democrats, have sent millions of jobs to other countries. We need to stop this hemorrhaging and find ways for American workers to compete in the new market.

I fully support global commerce.

I have long been a vocal advocate of reciprocal free trade though that position did not endear me to my own political party. And I continue to strongly believe in free and fair international trade.

Debates about trade inevitably revolve around the question of jobs, even thought trade has little effect of aggregate employment levels.

The closest we can come to free trade is illuminating the barriers to free trade.

I am utterly opposed to anything which will alter the Free Trade character of this country.

A global economy is a fact of life .... No politician can promise to protect you from it.

I believe the Japanese set ceilings on what they will buy from foreign companies.