Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump is back on the stage, promising to shake things up in the North American trade scene if he secures a second term in office. At the Detroit Economic Club, the orange titan of trade stated his intentions to flex the six-year amendment clause in the USMCA agreement, which he negotiated to bail out America from the clutches of NAFTA back in 2020. Apparently, Trump has no intention of letting the Democrats play fast and loose with trade deals, asserting that if they didn’t allow for renegotiation, he’d simply walk away from the table.
In classic Trump fashion, he promised to keep China out of the American car market by piling tariffs as high as necessary. He declared that no vehicles made in China’s new Mexican plants would roll into America without facing steep additional costs. While this might sound extreme, it’s a refreshing blast of common sense for anyone tired of watching foreign companies monopolize the auto industry while American jobs vanish.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: "To that end, I am announcing today that upon taking office, I will formally notify Mexico and Canada of my intention to invoke the 6-year-renegotiation provision of the USMCA… And I will seek strong new protections against trans-shipment, so that China and… pic.twitter.com/zNtIuedtON
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 10, 2024
Trump’s agenda isn’t just about prevention; it’s about revitalization, too. He laid out plans that could reaccelerate manufacturing in the U.S., like slashing the corporate tax rate to a paltry 15%, reducing energy expenses, and expanding research and development tax credits. With these moves, he aims to bring the manufacturing muscle back to American soil, bringing along shiny new cars for consumers with an innovative tax deduction for car loans.
The former president didn’t shy away from making his feelings known about Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming that her presidency would lead the country down the same rabbit hole that Detroit fell into, characterized by a declining economy and diminished hope. This rhetoric resonates with many who recall how once-thriving cities fell victim to poor leadership and chaotic policies.
Meanwhile, the Harris campaign had their feathers ruffled, arguing that Trump was merely mimicking the vice president’s prior suggestions regarding the USMCA renegotiation. In a somewhat ironic twist, Harris criticized the very agreement that Trump championed, claiming it was akin to a legislative betrayal of American workers. The irony is rich, as the bulk of the outsourcing crisis in the auto industry happened long before either candidate stepped into the political limelight. At the same time, Trump had managed to bounce back some auto jobs before the pandemic interrupted operations.
Trump’s vision of revitalizing Detroit was tinged with urgency and a dash of nostalgia as he regaled the audience with stories of his beloved Pontiac GTO. He framed his campaign as a rescue mission, aiming to turn back the clock on job losses and trade blunders orchestrated by what he termed the “stupid people” who negotiated past agreements. His pledge to dismantle the Biden administration’s electric vehicle rules on his first day in office aims to placate a sector grappling with transition challenges, but to his followers, it’s more about making America produce cars again.
With humor and a sprinkling of nostalgia, Trump appears poised to capture the hearts and minds of car-loving Americans, promising to bring Detroit back to its glory days. In an era where it seems easier to criticize than to construct, this message of renewal and renegotiation is one that surely resonates with a significant portion of the electorate.
