COMMENTARY

When President Trump ordered tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, he roiled many businesses throughout the United States and across the world.

The tariffs, however, also rallied many Americans. In fact, steel and aluminum workers dressed in blue jeans and holding hard hats joined the president to celebrate when he signed the tariffs.

Many American businesses are pushing back against the tariffs. Heavy tariffs could raise costs for U.S. manufacturers, hurt U.S. agriculture and provoke retaliation, they warn.

Tariffs, trade and Trump — what besides alliteration does it mean for the U.S. economy? Will the tariffs strengthen some American business or do more harm than good to others, such as U.S. agricultural exports, including those from Florida that have prospered under free-trade accords?

For today’s point-counterpoint, we turn to two respected voices to discuss the effects of the tariffs:

Richard Trumka, national president of the AFL-CIO, who speaks for workers who have lost jobs to foreign competition.

Sean Snaith, director of the University of Central Florida's Institute for Economic Competitiveness.

To learn more

Trump’s Tariff Can’t Start A Trade War Because It Started Years Ago goo.gl/4qWmfG

Don’t Worry About Trump’s Tariffs goo.gl/HqagwN