Kevin Roberts
Hats off to my friend @KentatCEI for a substantive exchange on trade policy. Our differences on this issue notwithstanding, we certainly agree on far more than we disagree, and I always appreciate his focus on substance. Having this very conversation is overdue within the conservative movement--and more broadly across the nation--so that we assess the various tradeoffs of specific tariffs, especially reciprocal tariffs that target the worst violators of free trade. Others have cited Reagan as a test of ideological continuity, especially for us @Heritage. I agree, considering that Reagan said, in a 1985 speech, "Above all else, free trade is, by definition, fair trade." Differentiating between free trade as theory, and free trade in practice, is vital--and perhaps that's the place to find common ground across our movement, as we assess the details of the proposed tariffs in the coming days. In the meantime, here's a short thread showing why Reagan is helpful: 1/3
