The Senate GOP leader’s comments came as he was pressed on whether he’s concerned about the potential economic impact of Trump’s proposed tariffs.
“I’m not a fan of tariffs. They raise the prices for American consumers. I’m more of a free-trade kind of Republican that remembers how many jobs are created by the exports that we engage in. So, I’m not a tariff fan,” McConnell said.
Trump garnered attention earlier this week after threatening to slap 200 percent tariffs on John Deere tractors made in Mexico.
He has also proposed levying tariffs of 60 percent or higher on Chinese goods and a blanket tariff of 20 percent on imports from other countries.
He told voters in Georgia on Tuesday that he would use tariffs to create a “manufacturing boom.”
“If you don’t make your product here, you will have to pay a tariff, a very substantial tariff when you send your product into the United States,” Trump said.
“And by the way, for years they knocked the word. The word ‘tariff,’ when properly used, is a beautiful word,” Trump argued. “One of the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard. It’s music to my ears. A lot of bad people didn’t like that word, but now they’re finding out I was right.”
The Hill’s Alex Bolton has more here.
