[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 13, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Tariffs

  Finally, on China, yesterday U.S. Trade Representative Robert 
Lighthizer told the Senate Finance Committee that he could predict the 
success of a trade agreement with China, saying there are major issues 
left to be resolved. I hope these major issues are the sinew--the 
meat--of what China does to us.
  This is not an issue of soybeans or imports or balance of trade, 
which is getting worse, even with what President Trump did. This is an 
issue of China's stealing the greatness of the American economy. This 
is an example of China's being able to cascade huge amounts of products 
into America and not letting us sell our products freely there, or 
seldom, under such conditions that it isn't worth it, such as turning 
our intellectual property and know-how to China or to Chinese 
Government-controlled companies.
  Lighthizer is doing a good job, but I worry that the President is 
more focused on getting a win than getting a good deal. The President 
should be proud that he stood up to North Korea and walked away. He 
should do the same thing here.
  President Xi is not going to give him much, and the President should 
have the guts to walk away because China is in a much weaker position, 
in part, because of the tariffs that the President correctly imposed on 
China.
  If the President walks away from a weak deal, the odds are very high 
that he will be able to come back to the table with a much better deal 
because China will have to relent. Stay strong. Don't cave. This is 
America's whole future at stake.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cramer). The Senator from Hawaii.