Tillis Talks Trade, Taxes, and the Agenda Moving Forward this Year

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) appeared before a luncheon meeting of The Ripon Society yesterday afternoon, delivering remarks about trade, taxes, and the agenda moving forward this year. 

“I have no problem with any sort of reciprocal tariffs where there’s a documented gap between our country and countries where there clearly is a deficit and inequity,” Tillis stated, referring to the sweeping new tariffs the President announced earlier this week.  “I have no problem with trying to determine what an equitable outcome is. 

“I’m not in a position to know whether or not the strategy that the Administration has embarked on is the right strategy.  But I will tell you this – there better not be anyone in the White House who recommended the tariff regimen that was put out yesterday and has not thought through the second and third order challenges that are going to follow.  And frankly, if they haven’t thought it through, they need to be replaced with somebody who has.”

Tillis was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014 after a 29-year career in business and a career in state and local politics that culminated with his being elected Speaker of the North Carolina House.  Since coming to Washington, he has earned a reputation as a straight-talking legislator who believes not only in the importance of conservative principles to meet the challenges we face at home, but the importance of American leadership to confront the growing threats we face abroad.

Tillis touched on America’s role as the leader of the free world in his remarks on Thursday afternoon.

“I don’t care about being punitive towards China right now,” he said.  “I don’t care about being punitive towards Russia or any other communist country that’s set on destroying democracy.  I do care about generations- and centuries-old friendships, where you have to look at the total relationship to determine what fair and equitable trade means.  Hopefully, those who have recommended this path to the President have thought that through.  Like I said, if they have not, I hope their replacement will.”

Tillis also touched on another key priority on the agenda — extending the 2017 tax cuts that are scheduled to expire — and why it is critical that Republicans remain focused on the issues that were of top concern to voters when they gave the party control of both Congress and the Presidency last year.

“We have to get the tax package done,” the North Carolina lawmaker stated matter-of-factly.  “We owe it to the American people not to raise taxes. And if we fail to do it, it will be Republicans who will be responsible for one of the most massive tax increases in modern history. I don’t want that record.”

“So, I’m going to be fighting to make sure we focus on the main things that got us to control all of Washington – and that was to address the economy, to address homeland security and to address the national security threats that we have today.  Once we get through those three, then you’ll interest me in any number of other things that I would like to get done.  But the main thing is the main thing. It’s always the main thing.  And when you address it, it’s why you get re-elected and get trusted to continue to lead this great country.”

Following his opening remarks, Tillis was asked a number of questions, including one about the new tariffs announced by the President and the advice he might have for how businesses, individuals, and other countries should deal with the economic uncertainty in the weeks and months ahead.

“If I were in the boardroom or in a C-suite with any of the clients that I had in the past,” the former businessman observed, “I would say, ‘Talk to me in about 90 days on anything related to capital expenditures.’  There are too many unknowns to deploy capital right now. You’d have to be out of your mind, or you’ve discovered a secret to business that I just have never figured out. 

“I can’t say anything more than let’s figure out how we can minimize the damage through the mutually assured destruction of escalating a trade war. Having said that, we are the ones who lit the candle. And I wouldn’t expect any country to say, ‘We’ll take a little pain here, because it will help the global economy.’  That’s not how it works, folks. 

“I’ll tell you the other thing that doesn’t work. You don’t make a promise on making things better through an election cycle.  This country was founded on the idea of having elections every two, four, and six years for a reason. We expect results, and we do not reward big mistakes.  

“So, if you can’t prove some incremental positive direction over a reasonably short period of time after an election, you’re going to get toasted in the next election.  And rightfully so.”

To view the remarks of Tillis before The Ripon Society Thursday afternoon, please click the link below:

The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 – Ripon, Wisconsin. One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success. These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.