OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Governor Scott Walker stops at an Oshkosh packaging facility Tuesday to voice opposition to President Trump’s proposed tariffs on foreign aluminum and steel.
“My ultimate concern is that would encourage companies based in Wisconsin, and across America, to say maybe they have to look at going somewhere else, to a country that doesn’t have tariffs on aluminum, and in other cases steel.”
Walker notes Bemis relies on ultra thin aluminum foil, some of which is imported.
“There is only one company in all of America that can supply that. They don’t supply enough just to cover Bemis, let alone any of the other companies that do similar work in the state of Wisconsin.”
The Republican governor says he applauds the president’s efforts to preserve U.S. industries but is afraid the tariffs would ultimately have the opposite effect.
“It will actually cost us American jobs. It will cost us jobs in the state of Wisconsin.”
Walker says he’s concerned that a trade war could hurt Wisconsin businesses like Harley Davidson.
“We ask the President of the United States to reconsider that policy, to hear our concerns in places like Wisconsin, and to stand up for American workers.”
President Trump is not backing down from his plan, saying the European Union has benefited from an unfair trade situation with the United States. He is downplaying worries about a trade war.
