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By Andrew Stanton
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President Donald Trump has reshaped the Republican Party's approach to free trade with his support for tariffs on imported goods. Some free marketeers who previously opposed tariffs have moved with him—but others still remain more wary of high tariffs.
Why It Matters
China is facing 125 percent tariffs amid a growing trade war with the Trump administration, which economists say could lead to higher prices for U.S. consumers. Earlier in April, he announced so called "reciprocal tariffs" against dozens of countries.
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But on Wednesday, Trump put into place a 90-day pause after the stock markets reacted negatively to the new economic policy and as many Americans faced growing concerns about higher prices or a potential recession. Trump touts the tariffs as necessary to close the trade deficit with other countries and restore U.S. manufacturing.
What to Know
A decade ago, Republicans generally embraced free trade policies and supported deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the never-passed Trans-Pacific Partnershp (TPP). Factions of the Democratic Party, who received backing from union voters who have shifted toward Republicans, were a bit more inclined to question these policies.
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Trump's tariff policy has shaken up how both parties view tariffs—polls indicate Democrats are increasingly critical of the policy, while Republicans have generally embraced them.
Some prominent Republicans' views on tariffs have shifted alongside those of the party's voter base; others, including the most staunch free marketeers in the party, remain opposed to tariffs and have defied Trump in recent days.
Here is a look at how some of the party's leaders have or have not changed their views on tariffs. Newsweek reached out to each of them for comment.
Senator Rand Paul
Paul, a Kentucky Republican, has long been among the most critical Republicans and was one of the four GOP senators who joined Democrats to rebuke Trump's tariffs against Canada. Earlier in April, he described tariffs as "not only bad economically" but "bad politically," warning the policy would cost Republicans.
This is on track with his long-standing opposition to tariffs.
"Tariffs are taxes that punish American consumers and producers. If tariffs punish farmers, the answer is not welfare for farmers—the answer is remove the tariffs," he wrote in a July 2018 post to X, then Twitter.
Senator Mike Lee
Lee, a Utah Republican, is another senator who has been opposed to tariffs in the past. In 2018, he spoke out against Trump tariffs on steel and aluminum, warning the policy would "impose a tax hike on the American people—one that will harm both workers and consumers."
On Thursday, he said in a statement to Newsweek: "I am glad that so many foreign leaders are dropping their tariffs in response to ours, which President Donald Trump is now pausing. It looks like Americans are on track for even freer trade than before."
He did not vote to rebuke the Canada tariffs but told The Wall Street Journal he believes other countries would be "scrambling" to get free trade agreements with the U.S. over the tariffs. He was among the GOP senators who urged Trump to reach deals to reduce those tariffs.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio
In a 2016 presidential debate, Rubio, then a senator from Florida, warned about the economic impact of tariffs.
"We are all frustrated with what China is doing. I think we need to be very careful with tariffs, and here's why," he said. "China doesn't pay the tariff, the buyer pays the tariff. If you send a tie or a shirt made in China into the United States and an American goes to buy it at the store and there's a tariff on it, it gets passed on in the price to the consumer."
Since his tenure as secretary of state, Rubio has been less critical of tariffs.
"I don't think it's fair to say economies are crashing. Markets are crashing because markets are based on the stock values of companies, who today are embedded in modes of production in ways that are bad for the United States. We have to be a country—to think we're the largest consumer market in the world, and yet the only thing we export is services. We need to stop that. We need to get back to a time where we're a country that can make things, and to do that we have to reset the global order of trade," he said during a press conference last week.
Senator Mitch McConnell
McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, joined Paul in voting against Trump's Canada tariff. In an opinion article published in Louisville newspaper The Courier Journal McConnell warned that blanket tariffs "make it more expensive to do business in America, driving up costs for consumers across the board."
He has been a vocal tariff critic in the past, also criticizing Trump's 2018 steel and aluminum tariffs. However, he did say in 2019 that Trump's tariffs on Mexico "worked," despite a lack of enthusiasm from Senate Republicans.
Senator Ted Cruz
Cruz, a Texas Republican, is another senator who has been opposed to tariffs, saying in a 2018 Senate debate he is "against tariffs," and had made the case opposing them to Trump.
"If we are reducing the barriers, whether it is to Mexico or Canada to China or anywhere else so we're selling more, that's a good thing. If we're erecting barriers and shutting down trade, that's a bad thing," he said.
Cruz said on Fox News that Trump is "exactly right to be standing up and fighting for reciprocity. He also discussed the issue during a recent episode of his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz, explaining the tariffs can be used as "leverage" with trading partners so both parties can lower their tariffs.
He cautioned that some Trump aides may want to see the tariffs stay in place permanently, but has said Trump should not take that route.
Senator Lindsey Graham
Graham, a South Carolina Republican, had been critical of some trade deals before Trump's tariffs. During Trump's first term, he supported renegotiating, but not withdrawing from, NAFTA. He also voted against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) over concerns about China, The Hill reported in 2005.
He has frequently shared support for Trump's tariffs on X.
"President Donald Trump is resetting the world's economy in a way that's more fair to America and will lead to more growth in our country and over time, the world," he wrote on April 9.
What People Are Saying
Cruz, on his podcast, said: "It is a bizarre dynamic that the two sides have switched, and they are essentially giving opposite talking points."
Trump, when asked about the pause on tariffs: "Well, I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line. They were getting yippy, you know, they were getting a little bit yippy, a little bit afraid … because we have a big job to do."
What Happens Next
The tariffs against China are already in place, while many other tariffs will not take effect until 90 days, giving more time for negotiations.
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