UK Edition
Donald Trump calls for America to follow Britain’s lead in 'taking back control' of its economy following Brexit
Donald Trump called for America to follow Britain’s lead in “taking back control” of its economy on Tuesday, in a major policy address on trade.
In a staunch argument against globalisation, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate painted Hillary Clinton, his likely rival, as the champion of policies that have pushed American jobs overseas.
“Our friends in Britain recently voted to take back control of their economy and borders,” he said. “Now it’s time for the American people to take back their future.”
Gloating that he was “on the right side" of Brexit, Mr Trump, who had previously said he wanted Britain to leave the European Union because it would help business at his golf courses in Scotland, said his position showed he was “with the people”.
The claims came as President Barack Obama urged against “hysteria” in the face of turbulent economic markets in the wake of the referendum.
He said the leave vote represented only a “pause" on the "project of full European integration” and warned against predictions of a wider dissolution of trans-Atlantic partnerships.
Mr Trump has long been an outspoken opponent of liberalised trade policies, which has helped to propell his extraordinary political rise, reflecting the anger of American blue-collar workers who have seen manufacturing jobs go overseas.
Speaking from a steel factory in Pennsylvania, in America’s battered industrial heartland, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said: “Globalisation has made the financial elite very very wealthy,” including Mrs Clinton among its members.
“Our politicians watched from the sidelines as jobs vanished and communities plunged into unemployment."
With a Trump presidency, he said “the era of economic dependence will finally be over”.
He vowed to repeal the “disaster” of the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, the two top US trade partners, which Mr Trump, reminded his audience was signed by Bill Clinton during his presidency.
He spoke out against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a giant trade deal between the US and Asian countries, that was initially supported by Mrs Clinton.
Repeating one his most long kept and consistent policies, Mr Trump said he would impose higher tariffs on importing foreign goods.
Whilst the rhetoric is popular, economists have warned that such policies could start a trade war with key international business partners that would only result in greater losses for the American economy.
China represents the third-largest US export market accounting for nearly $120 billion worth of goods last year.
In a scathing review, Fred Bergsten, co-founder of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said Mr Trump's policies were a “big loser” for the United States.
The Trump campaign hopes that the speech will re-energise his base of support after a month characterised by controversies and sliding poll numbers, and woeful fundraising figures. Mr Trump’s campaign operation pales in size, organisation and structure to that of Mrs Clinton, his likely Democratic rival during the election.
His campaign has sought to re-tool its operation, but in a sign of continuing confusion spokespeople for the Trump campaign contradicted each other this week on the issue of whether the real estate mogul was keeping to his promise to temporarily “ban” all Muslims from entering country.
In an apparent attempt to soften the position, Katrina Pierson, national spokesman for his campaign, said he never mentioned banning all Muslims. But a day later the campaign said the policy remained unchanged.