Highlights:
DeSantis Called To End China’s Trade Status. According to Ron DeSantis in an op-ed for USA Today, “We will take back control of our economy from China and restore our economic sovereignty by reversing the ever-increasing trade deficit, banning imports of goods made from stolen intellectual property, end China’s preferential trade status and incentivize the repatriation of U.S. capital from China.” [USA Today, Ron DeSantis, 8/7/23]
DeSantis Called To Incentivize US Repatriation From China. According to Ron DeSantis in an op-ed for USA Today, “We will take back control of our economy from China and restore our economic sovereignty by reversing the ever-increasing trade deficit, banning imports of goods made from stolen intellectual property, end China’s preferential trade status and incentivize the repatriation of U.S. capital from China.” [USA Today, Ron DeSantis, 8/7/23]
[Video Upon Request] DeSantis Said He Trump’s Tariffs Could Work As “Temporary Leverage” But Was Concerned About Higher Prices For Industries Downstream Of Aluminum And Steel. According to DeSantis on Fox, “DESANTIS: Well my concern with the tariffs - if it’s being used as temporary leverage to open markets, that could end up being good for the economy in the long-term. That could lead to more trade and more open trade. My concern right now is, like in Florida for example, we got about 100 jobs who use aluminum and steel downstream as inputs for every one job that’s directly manufacturing aluminum and steel. And so, I don’t want to increase prices for those other business and then potentially cost jobs. So, I think that. And we still need to know the details about how broad these things are going to apply, who’s it going to apply to, who is it not going to apply to? The president issued kind of a broad proclamation, but I think the details are really going to matter here.” [Fox, 3/12/18]
[Video Upon Request] DeSantis Seemed To Endorse Maximizing Exemptions To Tariffs. According to DeSantis on Fox, “BARTiROMO: So, then you would be in favor of having as many exemptions as possible then, it sounds like? DESANTIS: For our positive trading allies, and particularly with an eye towards not damaging any of those downstream businesses who are using aluminum and steel as inputs in their products or in their businesses, I think we have to look out for them as well as the people who are directly involved in producing those products.” [Fox, 3/12/18]
[Video Upon Request] DeSantis Said Questionable Chinese Practices Had Been Well-Documented, Adding “Whether Tariffs Are The Best Way” To Address Them Or Not, “We Can Debate That.” According to DeSantis on Fox, “BARTiROMO: Right. So, do you think this is about NAFTA, about China? With all of these exemptions, I mean, you have to ask yourself, why do it? Is it just a negotiating tactic? DESANTIS: I think that’s part of it, and I think China – and the president’s been very tough on China, and I think it’s been well documented, some of their practices. And I think those need to be addressed - whether tariffs are the best way or not, I mean we can debate that.” [Fox, 3/12/18]
[Video Upon Request] Asked Whether Trump’s Tariffs Were The Right Move, DeSantis Worried Retaliation Against US Farmers Was A Concern. According to DeSantis on Fox, “HOST: But first let’s talk about this trade situation. Is President Trump right to do this or are you worried about this trade story? DESANTIS: I think he's right to identify the problems with China. People have been talking about that for years. Their behavior in many ways has gotten worse. I think the issue is is how are you going to confront China on things? And when you're using relying primarily on tariffs I just think the fear is is that the retaliation against U.S., our farmers and other industries that we need to do well, could bear the brunt of that. And so I think that's the concern.” [Fox, 3/23/18]
[Video Upon Request] DeSantis Noted Negative Reaction To Trump Tariffs, Including On Steel And Aluminum, Expressed Concern It Could Undercut The “Great Course” Set In Congress. According to Ron DeSantis on Fox, “HOST: I mean nobody surprised by the retaliation, right? We were expecting China to come back with something. Does this impact the growth story of the economic growth story in the U.S. in your view? DESANTIS: I hope not. But I think it is true that the stock market responded negatively to this and it also responded negatively to the steel and aluminum tariffs. And we had really been doing well on the Trump presidency, but then the tax reform. So, I think we're on a great course based on what we've done in the Congress with taxes and regulations. And my fear is that this could potentially throw some sand in the gears on some of this stuff.” [Fox, 3/23/18]
[Video] DeSantis: “I’m Not Somebody That Advocates Tariffs.” According to Ron DeSantis on Fox Business, “DESANTIS: Well, I think in the Congress, you know, I’m not somebody that advocates tariffs. I mean, I want to have lower barriers and I want to have free trade.” [Fox, 6/25/18]
2015: DeSantis Effectively Voted Against Treating Currency Undervaluation As An Illegal Subsidy. In December 2015, DeSantis effectively voted against legislation that would have “allow[ed] climate change and human trafficking provisions in trade deals, and that would insist on the currency manipulation provisions included in the Senate amendments, defining currency undervaluation as an illegal subsidy and thereby making it subject to duty laws.” The underlying legislation was a conference report that would was a trade enforcement and customs bill. The vote was on a motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 172 to 239. [House Vote 692, 12/11/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/11/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/10/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 644]
2015: DeSantis Voted Against Reforming The International Monetary Fund (IMF) By Increasing The IMF’s Financial Resources And Increasing The Voting Share Of Emerging Countries Like China As Part Of The FY 2016 Omnibus. In December 2015, DeSantis voted against reforming the IMF. According to Congressional Quarterly, “In December 2010, the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed to a package of reforms that both increases the size of the IMF's resources and increases the voting share of emerging countries. The changes, which were crafted by the United States, would increase the size of the fund's core source of funding (the so-called quota) and increase the representation of developing economies such as China to reflect their growing share in the global economy. […] Moreover, specific congressional authorization is required for the United States to consent to change the U.S. quota, while any new authorized U.S. contributions to the fund generally necessitate congressionally authorized appropriations.” The legislation was, according to Congressional Quarterly, a FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The vote was on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill with an amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 316 to 113. The legislation was later combined with a tax extender bill. The Senate passed the larger measure and the president signed it. [House Vote 705, 12/18/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/18/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/15/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/17/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2029]
2015: DeSantis Voted To Grant President Obama “Fast-Track” Authority For Trade Bills Submitted To Congress, Including Trans-Pacific Partnership And The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. In June 2015, DeSantis voted for granting the president ‘fast track’ authority for trade bills. The legislation would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “grant[ed] Trade Promotion Authority, under which implementing legislation for trade agreements negotiated by the administration would be considered by Congress under expedited procedures and could not be amended.” The vote was on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill with an amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 218 to 208. The bill then went to the Senate, which passed the legislation, which was then later signed by the president. [House Vote 374, 6/18/15; Congressional Quarterly, 6/18/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2146]
2015: DeSantis Effectively Voted For Granting President Obama “Fast-Track” Authority For Trade Bills Submitted To Congress, Including Trans-Pacific Partnership And The Transatlantic Trade And Investment Partnership. In June 2015, DeSantis voted for a resolution setting a House rule that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “ma[d]e in order a motion to concur in the Senate amendment, with an amendment, to the bill (HR 2146) that would [have] grant[ed] Trade Promotion Authority, under which implementing legislation for trade agreements negotiated by the administration would be considered by congress under expedited procedures and could not be amended.” The vote was on the resolution. The House agreed to the resolution by a vote of 244 to 181. The House later agreed to the amendment, thereby passing the bill. The bill then went to the Senate, which passed the legislation, which was then later signed by the president. [House Vote 373, 6/18/15; Congressional Quarterly, 6/18/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2146; Congressional Actions, H. Res. 321]
2015: DeSantis Effectively Voted For Granting President Obama “Fast-Track” Authority For Trade Bills Submitted To Congress, Including Trans-Pacific Partnership And The Transatlantic Trade And Investment Partnership And For Trade Adjustment Assistance. In June 2015, DeSantis voted for a resolution that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “provide[d] for House floor consideration of the Senate amendment to a package (HR 1314) of Trade Promotion Authority and Trade Adjustment Assistance legislation and provide for floor consideration of the Senate amendments to a customs enforcement measure (HR 644).” The vote was on adoption of the rule. The House agreed to the resolution by a vote of 217 to 212. H.R. 1314 was later turned into the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, but separate legislation granting fast-track authority was signed into law. H.R. 644 was also later signed into law. [House Vote 359, 6/11/15; Congressional Quarterly, 6/11/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2146; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1314; Congressional Actions, H.R. 644; Congressional Actions, H. Res. 305]