Senator Bob Corker on Wednesday, released the following statement regarding President Donald J. Trump’s meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker:
“While we await details from the administration on what was agreed to today, this appears to be a small step in the right direction.
For weeks, we have been calling on the administration to reverse course, lower its rhetoric, and engage in a constructive dialogue with our friends and allies. It appears the pressure applied by members on both sides of the aisle in Congress and the outrage expressed by the American public has had an impact. I am hopeful the White House will move quickly to reach a final agreement because, until it does, the American people will continue to pay the price for the administration’s misguided trade policies.”
Senator Lamar Alexander said, “The goal the President stated today of ‘zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, and zero subsidies’ is exactly the right goal for Tennessee workers and a welcome movement away from piling tariffs on top of tariffs that threaten to destroy jobs and lower family incomes. Taking such steps in the direction of reciprocity—insisting that other countries do for us what we do for them—rather than a trade war, is the right thing to do for the American worker.”
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said, “Today’s trade announcement was good news for those, like me, who have long been advocates for free trade. Tennessee’s Third District greatly benefits from international investment, with companies like Volkswagen, providing a source of employment and economic prosperity throughout East Tennessee. Over the last couple of months, I have spoken with concerned Tennesseans about the impact of tariffs, especially those imposed on steel and aluminum. I am pleased with President Trump’s announcement that today ushers in a new phase of international relations grounded in the conservative principle of free trade, and I look forward to further announcements as negotiations progress and trade barriers are reduced.”