Lincoln, NE - U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, an outspoken advocate for trade and agriculture, released the following statement after President Trump discussed the possible elimination of G-7 trade barriers and tariffs, but also expressed that the United States is being taken advantage of in all of our trading relationships.
"If the President is actually serious about leading the expansion of a G-7 no-tariff, free-trade agreement, that's tremendous, tremendous news -- for the U.S. and for the free nations of the world. I would happily carry his bag to every single meeting of those negotiations.
But the path to more trade begins with less whining on the global stage. The simple fact is that more trade has been overwhelmingly beneficial to U.S. families and to net U.S. job creation for 75 straight years, and pretending America has been taken advantage of -- that is, pretending that we're losers -- isn't true.
The constant victim-talk doesn't help anyone. It doesn't help trade negotiations. And it doesn't help U.S. citizens understand the disruption in our economy that is actually coming from more technology and more automation, not from free trade agreements -- which have overwhelmingly benefited American families.
If the President were to use his negotiating skills to advance more trade, that would be very good news indeed. Let's see what happens."
