The word "tariffs" may not come up in your dinner table conversation, but it's a big issue now at the White House.
TODAY'S TMJ4's Charles Benson asked President Trump adviser Peter Navarro about the escalating trade war with China and what it means for consumers and Wisconsin companies.
Navarro is not a household name, but he's helping Trump's team negotiate a better trade deal with China.
"My mission at the White House is to help create good-paying jobs for the men and women who work with their hands," said Navarro.
Dr. Navarro toured the Waukesha County Technical College campus with U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy and talked with students learning new trade skills.
Navarro is considered a China hawk. He favors getting tough on trade with China.
Benson: "Take me inside a middle class family, they're a lot of about trade wars and escalating tariffs: Why should they care and how can the U.S. win?"
Navarro: "China engages in seven different forms of economic aggression. Every American needs to understand the scope of this.
"That scope — from hacking computers to steal business secrets to dumping products below cost.
"To help level the playing field, Congressmen Duffy and Jim Sensenbrenner are backing a bill called the Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act.
"It says if one nation charges a higher tariff — meaning a tax on our goods going into their country — then the U.S. will charge the same tariffs on their exported products.
"My mission at the White House is to help create good-paying jobs for the men and women who work with their hands." — Trump adviser Peter Navarro
"What President Trump is trying to do is defend your jobs, your health your safety, national security by taking China on."
Wisconsin Democrats don't agree with the president's efforts so far.
"Wisconsin needs better trade deals, not trade wars," said U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
"President Trump's haphazard approach on tariffs has led to these retaliatory tariffs from China that will hurt Wisconsin manufacturers and will also hurt our farmers during an already extremely challenging time for our agriculture economy.
"I have pressed the Trump administration to provide support for farmers, but so far the president hasn't delivered results and our farmers can't afford to wait."
