GOP Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska slammed President Donald Trump’s views on trade policy Saturday, following reports the administration is planning to withdraw the United States from its free trade agreement with South Korea.
Sasse said he and the president have a “basic disagreement about trade,” arguing on Twitter Trump holds “18th-century views” on the issue.
The move would have a negative impact on the nation’s agriculture industry, according to the Nebraska Republican, who has long had a strained relationship with the president.
“The president and Nebraska have a basic disagreement about trade,” Sasse said in a statement. “His administration holds 18th-century views of trade as a zero-sum game. I side with our farmers and ranchers who are feeding the world now
The Admin. holds 18th-c. views of trade as a zero-sum game. I side w/farmers &ranchers who are feeding the world now pic.twitter.com/WdnPBCAYWS
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) September 2, 2017
Renegotiating trade deals was a top campaign platform for the president — veering toward a protectionist trade policy– who says current trade agreements favor other nations.
A White House spokeswoman told The Washington Post, “discussions are ongoing, but we have no announcements at this time,” regarding whether the president will pull out of the deal.
Critics argue pulling out of the deal could strain relations between the countries as they both try and mitigate how to deal with the threat of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
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