President Reagan delivering his Japanese trade-tariff radio address from Camp David, April 25, 1987. Courtesy Reagan Library
Q1. In 1987, President Reagan gave a radio address (transcript in Addtnl Info) that started by reminding listeners of his new tariffs on Japan because of that country’s “inability to enforce their trade agreement with us on electronic devices called semiconductors.”
He then said “Imposing such tariffs are steps that I am loath to take because over the long run such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer. But the Japanese semiconductors were a special case. We had clear evidence that Japanese companies were engaging in unfair trade practices that violated our agreement.”
He then linked tariffs to the Great Depression, and went on to say (paraphrasing) “At first it looks like tariffs are patriotic, protecting American jobs. But only for a short time. Eventually homegrown industries rely on protection and stop competing and innovating. What’s more, tariffs lead to retaliation, triggering trade wars. Markets shrink and collapse.”
The Wall Street Journal summarized Reagan's address this way "Anyone who reads the speech can see Reagan favored free trade, with rare exceptions for political pragmatism and national security."
Is that how Reagan viewed trade? Is that how President Trump views trade? Is that how you view trade? (check all that apply)
He then said “Imposing such tariffs are steps that I am loath to take because over the long run such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer. But the Japanese semiconductors were a special case. We had clear evidence that Japanese companies were engaging in unfair trade practices that violated our agreement.”
He then linked tariffs to the Great Depression, and went on to say (paraphrasing) “At first it looks like tariffs are patriotic, protecting American jobs. But only for a short time. Eventually homegrown industries rely on protection and stop competing and innovating. What’s more, tariffs lead to retaliation, triggering trade wars. Markets shrink and collapse.”
The Wall Street Journal summarized Reagan's address this way "Anyone who reads the speech can see Reagan favored free trade, with rare exceptions for political pragmatism and national security."
Is that how Reagan viewed trade? Is that how President Trump views trade? Is that how you view trade? (check all that apply)
(Image: The Reagans with Japanese PM Nakasone and wife Tsukato, Tokyo, 1983. Getty)
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
That is how Reagan viewed trade
85%
85%
84%
75%
85%
93%
86%
80%
86%
87%
85%
Is not
7%
7%
8%
11%
8%
4%
11%
7%
7%
7%
7%
That is how Trump views trade
22%
25%
18%
48%
10%
1%
23%
15%
24%
24%
22%
Is not
68%
65%
71%
38%
79%
92%
77%
68%
67%
65%
68%
That is how I view trade
65%
66%
64%
53%
64%
76%
67%
66%
63%
67%
65%
Is not
18%
18%
18%
28%
13%
11%
25%
13%
21%
17%
18%
Not sure
10%
11%
9%
15%
11%
6%
2%
15%
11%
8%
10%
Don't care
1%
0%
0%
0%
2%
1%
0%
2%
0%
1%
Q2. In recent weeks, the Canadian province of Ontario ran a TV ad in the US with a voiceover of Reagan delivering two excerpts from that address.
The first excerpt is Reagan reading the part paraphrased in Question1 — essentially that tariffs may seem like a good idea but in the long run are bad for American workers and consumers.
The second is the excerpt "Throughout the world, there’s a growing realization that the way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition. America’s jobs and growth are at stake."
In response to a public complaint by President Trump about the ad, the Reagan Foundation said the ad "misrepresents the address," though didn't say how, while encouraging people to view the address on its YouTube channel.
Do you think the ad misrepresents Reagan's message?
The first excerpt is Reagan reading the part paraphrased in Question1 — essentially that tariffs may seem like a good idea but in the long run are bad for American workers and consumers.
The second is the excerpt "Throughout the world, there’s a growing realization that the way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition. America’s jobs and growth are at stake."
In response to a public complaint by President Trump about the ad, the Reagan Foundation said the ad "misrepresents the address," though didn't say how, while encouraging people to view the address on its YouTube channel.
Do you think the ad misrepresents Reagan's message?
(Image: 1980s Sanyo TV. Reagan's tariffs targeted Japanese TVs, but were likely for show since by 1987 the US was no longer importing TVs from Japan due to appreciation of Yen — see link in Addtl Info. )
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Yes, ad misrepresents Reagan's views
39%
47%
32%
82%
20%
6%
23%
41%
44%
37%
39%
No, does not misrepresent
48%
42%
54%
5%
54%
84%
53%
48%
43%
52%
48%
Not sure
3%
2%
3%
1%
7%
3%
2%
3%
1%
4%
3%
Cannot tell with info provided
10%
9%
10%
12%
17%
6%
19%
6%
11%
7%
10%
Don't care
1%
1%
0%
0%
3%
1%
2%
2%
1%
0%
1%
Q3. Last Thursday, President Trump threatened to cut off trade talks with Canada if the ad wasn't removed immediately, saying it mischaracterized Reagan's views, that Reagan "LOVED TARIFFS." Trump later said the ad was being used to influence the US Supreme Court, which will soon rule on the legality of Trump's use of emergency powers to levy base-rate tariffs on every US trade partner.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that he would call off the ad campaign, effective Monday, meaning the ad ran after Trump's ultimatum, on Friday and Saturday night during the first two games of the World Series. (The Toronto Blue Jays are in the Series.)
Trump responded to the delay by raising the tariff rate on all Canadian goods by 10 percentage points.
Your view? (select all that apply)
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that he would call off the ad campaign, effective Monday, meaning the ad ran after Trump's ultimatum, on Friday and Saturday night during the first two games of the World Series. (The Toronto Blue Jays are in the Series.)
Trump responded to the delay by raising the tariff rate on all Canadian goods by 10 percentage points.
Your view? (select all that apply)
(Image: Still from Ontario ad of Gordie Howe Intl Bridge nearing its 2024 completion. It connects Detroit and Windsor, Ont. )
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
OK with Ontario running ads before Thursday
61%
60%
62%
22%
70%
93%
60%
70%
56%
59%
61%
Not OK
28%
26%
30%
56%
20%
3%
26%
17%
34%
31%
28%
Ok with Ontario running ads after Thursday
60%
55%
63%
21%
69%
91%
72%
62%
56%
56%
60%
Not OK
27%
28%
27%
56%
22%
3%
15%
21%
33%
32%
27%
OK with Trump ordering ads stopped
34%
37%
32%
71%
21%
5%
25%
28%
43%
33%
34%
Not OK
55%
49%
60%
12%
70%
89%
64%
55%
50%
57%
55%
OK with Trump punitive tariffs on Canada
35%
39%
32%
75%
21%
4%
25%
26%
44%
38%
35%
Not OK
56%
49%
63%
11%
72%
92%
64%
59%
51%
56%
56%
Ads impacted US public opinion
40%
41%
38%
39%
38%
41%
64%
28%
40%
42%
40%
Did not
43%
46%
40%
40%
44%
46%
31%
52%
40%
43%
43%
Ads impacted Supreme Court decision
10%
10%
10%
14%
7%
7%
23%
3%
10%
12%
10%
Did not
59%
60%
56%
46%
56%
70%
53%
57%
62%
57%
59%
Not sure
20%
19%
21%
25%
22%
15%
19%
22%
18%
21%
20%
Don't care
4%
6%
0%
7%
3%
1%
0%
11%
1%
0%
4%
Reagan address transcript
A 1987 LA Times article said Reagan's tariffs on Japanese imports were for show because they were for the most part levied on Japanese TVs, but the US no longer imported TVs from Japan because of a strong Yen. Japan did export some TVs to the US from manufacturing sites in Mexico and other countries, but they were not subject to tariffs.
A 1987 LA Times article said Reagan's tariffs on Japanese imports were for show because they were for the most part levied on Japanese TVs, but the US no longer imported TVs from Japan because of a strong Yen. Japan did export some TVs to the US from manufacturing sites in Mexico and other countries, but they were not subject to tariffs.
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