WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a virtual press conference held over Zoom, Congressman Tim Ryan gave short remarks, expressing his disdain for the Biden Administration’s recent lifting of tariffs for China’s solar panel manufacturing, of which Ohio is the leader in terms of United States manufacturers.
“I think that lifting these [Section 301 tariffs] that have been put on would be a huge mistake by the Administration,” stated the Democratic congressman. “We have seen the last 30 or 40 years, especially in states like Ohio in the industrial Midwest, but really all over the United States, how China has had a long-term plan to displace the United States economically.”
Ryan continued to express his approval of politicians who protected these tariffs.
“Putting tariffs on Chinese products is entirely appropriate for this country, and I supported President Trump when he did it,” said Ryan in his address.
The congressman explained how this will negatively impact United States manufacturing.
“I understand the issue of inflation, and that people are getting hammered in the pocketbook…There is no real evidence that lifting these tariffs is going to have any impact at all on inflationary pressures. Once again, it will reduce our ability to build the manufacturing base here in the United States, and it will continue to tip the balance towards China. So, I will oppose the Administration on this issue.”
The press were then welcome to ask the congressman questions. When asked, he explained that he and his colleagues have been very vocal of their disdain for certain actions made by the the Administration, as they would affect the country on a multi-faceted level, regarding our energy dependency, local manufacturing, and other issues.
Ryan was also asked how this reliance on China would harm the environment, to which he explained that any dependence on China would be a detriment to the planet.
“I think any overreliance on China for manufacturing is an absolute disaster for the environment. They have the dirtiest steel in the world, they have the dirtiest productions in the world, they are still dumping [waste] into their rivers. They have all kinds of environmental and health issues because of that.”
Congressman Ryan then closed the conference stating, “We’ve got to provide some leadership here, and that means making the tough, short-term decisions that are going to benefit the country in the long-term.”
Ryan is seeking to fill the open U.S. Senate seat this November for Ohio.