Ocean County Leader

In a recent opinion piece published in the Washington Times, Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) expressed support for President Trump's approach to international trade, particularly with China. The op-ed highlights Trump's "strategic vision and actions to reindustrialize our nation, create jobs and boost economic prosperity."

Rep. Smith, who co-chairs the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, attended a recent White House event where President Trump announced new tariffs. Smith criticizes the People’s Republic of China under Xi Jinping for "egregiously unfair and predatory trade practices" and for amassing significant trade deficits with the United States. He argues that these practices are aimed at harming the U.S. economy.

Smith traces the issue back to 1994, when President Bill Clinton delinked human rights from trade with China, leading to a "staggering" $7.1 trillion trade deficit by January 2024, according to census.gov. He believes that Trump recognizes the "existential threat posed by China" and has taken necessary actions in response.

The op-ed also addresses various concerns about China's trade practices, including the violation of intellectual property rights and the exploitation of American technology to bolster China's military strength. Rep. Smith points out China's lack of reciprocity in trade and criticizes its practices of using slave labor to "depress prices and undercut our manufactured goods."

Smith recalls his efforts since 1999 to warn against China's entry into the World Trade Organization. He accuses both Republican and Democrat colleagues of naively believing that trade would lead China to embrace democracy and international norms.

Further, Smith discusses the issue of China exporting fentanyl precursors to Mexico and money laundering through Canadian banks, implicating China in "asymmetric warfare against the United States." He supports tariffs on Mexico to compel their cooperation in combating these issues.

He also commends President Trump's initiatives to address de minimis trade loopholes exploited by companies like Temu and Shein, which he claims violate labor rights and engage in data theft.

Finally, Rep. Smith praises efforts to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals and to restore U.S. energy independence.

This op-ed appeared in the Washington Times on April 7, 2025.