McConnell: Kentucky Can’t Afford Trump’s Tariffs

McConnell writes for the Louisville Courier-Journal:

But no matter our best intentions, tariffs are bad policy. As Sen. Rand Paul, put it: “Tariffs are simply taxes… Taxing trade will mean less trade and higher prices.” So Republicans ought to be clear-eyed about the full, unadulterated impact of tariffs as we work to restore sound fiscal policy to our government.

Blanket tariffs make it more expensive to do business in America, driving up costs for consumers across the board. These aren’t just abstract concerns.

Broad-based tariffs could have long-term consequences right in our backyard. Consider our state’s 75,000 family farms that sell their crops around the globe, or the hardworking Kentuckians who craft 95% of the world’s bourbon, or our auto industry that relies on global supply chains to support the livelihoods of thousands of workers in the commonwealth.

Read the full op-ed.

Opinion: Mitch McConnell: Kentuckians can’t afford the high cost of Trump’s tariffs https://t.co/Gslaz9awZ3

— Courier Journal (@courierjournal) February 12, 2025