Sec. Leavitt details the unfair trade practices that are hurting American business

Sec. Leavitt: "Well, I think, first of all, unfortunately, these countries have been ripping off our country for too long and have made their disdain for the American worker quite clear. If you look at the unfair trade practices we have, a 50% tariff from the European Union on American dairy, a 700% tariff from Japan on American rice, a 100% tariff from India on American agricultural products. You have a nearly 300% tariff from Canada on American butter and cheese.

This makes it virtually impossible for American products to be imported into these markets, and it has put many Americans out of business and out of work over the past few decades. So it's time for reciprocity, and it's time for a president to make historic change to do what's right for the American people. And that will happen on Wednesday."

Several countries have implemented high tariffs on U.S. products, which has negatively affected the competitiveness of these products in international markets and put U.S. producers and workers at a disadvantage. Some notable examples include:

The European Union imposes a 50% tariff on U.S. dairy products.

Japan imposes a 700% tariff on U.S. rice, making it difficult to sell this product in their market.

India charges a 100% tariff on U.S. agricultural products, such as fruits and vegetables, affecting U.S. farmers.

Canada has imposed a tariff of nearly 300% on U.S. dairy products, such as butter and cheese, making these products more expensive and less competitive in that market.

These tariffs have made it difficult for U.S. producers to export their goods, leading to many entrepreneurs and workers losing their jobs or being displaced by foreign competition. Over the years, this has been an increasingly concerning issue for the U.S. economy, especially in key sectors such as agriculture, food production, and dairy products.

In response to this situation, former President Donald Trump took aggressive measures to counter these tariffs and pressured other countries to modify their trade policies. Under his administration, Trump implemented a "reciprocal trade" policy, demanding that countries imposing high tariffs on U.S. products face similar measures. This was part of his broader "America First" approach, which aimed to protect U.S. economic interests and reduce the trade deficit with other nations.