Trump’s proposed tariffs would let US ‘fight back’ against China: Youngkin

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) argued that former President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs would help the United States on the global stage, allowing the country to be competitive against others such as China .

Trump’s proposal would impose a 10% across-the-board fee on all products imported into the U.S., which he has argued would help protect jobs. Youngkin, an ally of Trump, contended that free trade in the global economy does not exist and that the U.S. gives “unfettered access” to its market while other countries do not reciprocate this access to the country.

“And let’s be clear, U.S. companies do not have access on an unfettered basis to the Chinese market, and yet they expect to have unfettered access to the U.S. market, and so we've got to stand up strong for the United States,” Youngkin said on Bloomberg Surveillance.

Youngkin also warned that China is trying to “dominate the world” at the U.S.’s expense and is using “economic imperialism” to do so. He added that the Eastern country is doing everything it can to infiltrate and influence the U.S. economy.

“What that has translated to is a real recognition that we need to not only protect ourselves against China but we need to fight back, and so the tariffs that President Trump imposed on China when he struck the first Chinese deal were critical in order to rebalance an unbalanced situation with China,” Youngkin said.

The Virginia governor was also asked about the possibility of serving in a second Trump administration, as the former president has indicated interest in recruiting him. Youngkin said he has two goals in mind: helping Trump win the election and continuing his role as governor.

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Winning Virginia has been a growing discussion among the Republican Party Youngkin said the typically blue state is “in play” for Trump this November. The Trump campaign announced plans last month to open more campaign offices in the state.

Trump’s pitch for tariffs is very much in line with Sen. J.D. Vance’s (R-OH) plans for trade. Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, has supported boosting the country’s manufacturing sector by using tariffs and has pushed back on the premise that tariffs are inherently inflationary.