Letter to the editor: Tariffs vs. free trade

Those who disagreed with President Trump’s planned tariff on Mexican products, understanding that it would most likely have resulted in higher prices for the American consumer, as well as higher costs to American businesses, are probably right.

Their first response should be to contact their Democratic (and Republican) representatives and demand that they give Trump the tools he needs to address the crisis on our southern border. Congress should provide money for more agents, beds to hold immigrants, an increase in allowable holding times, more judges to adequately adjudicate for immigrants who have actual cause to ask for asylum and a change in the laws that immediately give birthright citizenry.

As long as legislators fail to fulfill their responsibility to protect our border and security, the voters should accept the fact that Trump is doing one of the few things in his power to protect this country and its citizens from such assaults.

As Scott Paul so effectively pointed out in his op-ed “Toomey out of touch with steel tariff reality” (May 30, TribLIVE), tariffs against countries like China and Mexico must be used on occasion to combat their policies such as theft of intellectual property and facilitating assaults on our border.

For too long, the American consumer has gotten a free ride on cheap goods, and it’s about time that we should pony up for the benefit of our own country and our own security. If our legislators aren’t willing to protect a border that leaks like a sieve, we should be prepared to reach into our pockets.

Michael Contes

New Kensington