"'Project 2025' Must Be Abandoned"
"The US Should Lead the World"...Concerns Over Trump's Isolationism
U.S. President Joe Biden criticized the 'universal tariff' policy, one of President-elect Donald Trump's key campaign promises, calling it "a serious mistake."
On the 10th (local time), President Biden made this remark during a speech summarizing his economic achievements at the Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington DC.
US President Joe Biden is delivering a speech at the Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington DC, on the 10th (local time). Photo by UPI
President Biden said, "He (Trump) seems determined to impose steep universal tariffs on all imports entering the U.S., based on the mistaken belief that 'the cost of tariffs will be borne by foreign countries, not American consumers.' Who do you think pays that cost? I believe such an approach is a serious mistake."
During his campaign, President-elect Trump pledged to impose a 10-20% universal tariff on all imports and a 'tariff bomb' of over 60% on Chinese imports. On the 25th of last month, after the election, he declared plans to impose tariffs of 25% on Mexico and Canada and 10% on China, citing issues related to drugs and illegal immigration.
President Biden also said, "I pray to God that the president-elect will scrap 'Project 2025,'" adding, "It would be an economic disaster for us and the region."
Project 2025 is a policy proposal book created by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation and officials who served in senior positions during Trump's first administration. It includes radical federal government restructuring plans such as abolishing the Department of Education, reducing the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), stripping the independence of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as well as ultra-hardline right-wing stances on illegal immigration. Although President-elect Trump distanced himself from Project 2025 during the campaign, after winning the election, he appointed many individuals involved in drafting Project 2025 to various positions in the next administration.
President Biden also expressed concern about the possibility of President-elect Trump scrapping major achievements such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the CHIPS Act, which he counts among his key accomplishments. He emphasized, "The historic investments we have made (based on the IRA, etc.) have gone more to Republican-supporting states than Democratic-supporting states." He urged not to shut down electric vehicle battery plants in North Carolina and solar cell factories in Georgia.
President Biden also introduced discussions he had with President Yoon Suk-yeol and Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong during his visit to South Korea regarding Korean companies' investments in the U.S. He added, "Most economists agree that the new administration will inherit a fairly strong economy," and stated, "I hope to preserve these advances (economic achievements under the Biden administration) and build upon them."
He also expressed concern that U.S. foreign policy might shift toward isolationism after President-elect Trump's inauguration, asking, "If we do not lead the world, which country will?"
President Biden said, "I believe the only way for a president to lead America is to lead all Americans," urging politics of unity.
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