‘Made in America’ is a Long-Term Objective, but Tariffs are Immediate
President Trump’s newly announced ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs aim to reshape global trade and bring manufacturing back to America. But will they actually achieve that goal? Former four-term Congressman and successful businessman Jim Renacci argues that tariffs, while a useful tool, cannot single-handedly rebuild an industrial base that has been decades in decline.
Renacci knows more than just a thing or two about this. He has served on multiple finance committees, including the House Ways & Means Committee, Budget Committee, and others.
Manufacturing infrastructure takes years to develop, requiring skilled labor, supply chains, and production facilities—all of which the U.S. currently lacks at scale. Without these elements in place, tariffs act less as a bargaining chip and more as a hidden tax on American consumers, driving up prices without providing an immediate domestic alternative.
Under Trump’s plan, all countries exporting to the U.S. will face a 10% tariff, with steeper penalties for those with high trade deficits—China, for example, will be hit with a 54% tariff. But history shows that foreign nations don’t simply absorb economic pressure—they retaliate, adjust trade policies, and seek alternatives. The assumption that these countries will not respond in kind is a risky bet.
Renacci, a fiscal conservative with experience in both business and government, offers a pragmatic take: Tariffs should be used strategically, not as a blunt instrument. Instead of relying solely on tariffs, the U.S. must invest in infrastructure, workforce training, and supply chain security to truly re-shore American manufacturing. Until then, the burden of these tariffs will fall on consumers, not foreign competitors.
Jim Renacci is available for interviews to discuss the economic implications of Trump’s trade policies.
Renacci’s Newsmax Commentaries:
Jim Renacci – Renacci’s Truths | Newsmax.com
Relevant Article(s):
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/01/business/trump-tariff-liberation-day/index.html
April 2, 2025: Liberation Day tariff announcements | CNN Business
This is the dubious way Trump appears to have calculated his ‘reciprocal’ tariffs | CNN Business
OPTIONAL Q&A
- You’ve said that tariffs can be a useful tool but not a silver bullet. What do you mean by that, and how should they be used more effectively?
- President Trump’s goal is to bring manufacturing back to America, but you argue that’s not something that happens overnight. What steps need to be taken first to make that a reality?
- With a 10% tariff on all imports and a 54% tariff on Chinese goods, do you think foreign nations will retaliate? If so, what kind of responses should the U.S. expect?
- You’ve said that without existing factories and supply chains in place, tariffs function more as a hidden tax on consumers. Can you explain how that works and what it means for everyday Americans?
- Some argue that the short-term pain of tariffs is necessary to correct decades of outsourcing. Do you think the American economy can sustain that level of disruption, or are there better ways to encourage companies to re-shore?
- What specific policies would you propose to rebuild America’s manufacturing base so that tariffs can be more effective in the future?
- Trump’s tariffs assume that businesses will move production back to the U.S., but what other factors—like labor costs, regulations, and supply chains—might prevent that from happening?
- You’ve built businesses and created jobs. From a business owner’s perspective, how would these tariffs impact companies that rely on global supply chains, and what would need to change to make U.S. manufacturing a competitive alternative?
Visit Jim’s Website at https://jimrenacci.com/
ABOUT JIM RENACCI…
In 2010, Jim filed to run for U.S. Congress in Ohio’s 16th Congressional District, taking on a well-funded Democratic incumbent. Jim won the election by 9 percent.
While in Congress, Jim earned a reputation for being a principled conservative and effective legislator. He quickly rose through the ranks to serve on the Committee on Financial Services, as vice-chair of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, and as a member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. After just two years, Jim was named to the powerful Ways and Means Committees and Budget Committees.
Not only did the blue-collar entrepreneur realize his own dream, but Jim also became the answer to countless Ohioans. As can only happen in America, the Ohioan entrepreneur soon laid claim to operate over 60 businesses, creating 1,500 new jobs, employing over 3,000 people statewide.
But politics had other plans. In 2009, the Obama Administration took over General Motors, shuttering dealerships across the country— including Jim’s in Northeast Ohio. Shutting down Jim’s dealership killed 50 good-paying jobs in his community — and Jim wasn’t going to stand by while neighbors were going hungry. How could Washington blatantly interfere in the everyday lives of hard-working Americans who wanted nothing more but their own chance at the American Dream?
Jim’s track record as a blue-collar entrepreneur demonstrates his only allegiance has ever been to the very people who D.C. bureaucrats forcibly unemployed that fateful day in an Ohio car dealership — the everyday Americans forgotten by the Swamp. He represents the people’s hopes and fears, bringing actionable results back to the working people who gave him a voice.
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