by: John Clore | 3/12/2025 at 9:07 AM
Presidential Tariffs: How Clinton, Obama, and Biden Used Trade Policies While Ignoring Government Waste
Throughout the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, various tariff policies were enacted under the guise of protecting U.S. industries and addressing unfair trade practices. However, while these presidents selectively imposed tariffs, they simultaneously expanded government waste, increased federal bureaucracy, and failed to streamline the bloated federal workforce.
Bill Clinton (1993–2001): Selective Tariffs, Bloated Spending
While Clinton largely promoted free trade agreements like NAFTA, he also implemented selective tariffs to appease certain industries. Instead of cutting government waste and reducing federal employment, his administration increased government spending and regulatory burdens.
🔹 Byrd Amendment (2000): Redirected funds collected from anti-dumping duties to U.S. companies filing complaints against foreign competitors selling products below cost, effectively picking winners and losers in the market rather than reforming the economic system.
🔹 Failure to Cut Waste: The Clinton administration ballooned federal agency spending, refusing to enact meaningful cuts to the bureaucracy, instead allowing inefficient agencies to grow unchecked.
🔹 Federal Workforce Expansion: Despite calls for reducing government inefficiency, Clinton kept unnecessary agencies fully staffed, choosing to increase federal oversight rather than empower private-sector job growth.
Barack Obama (2009–2017): Tariffs on China, Exploding Government Spending
Obama campaigned on promises of economic recovery, but his administration’s policies propped up wasteful government spending and kept unproductive federal employees on the payroll while selectively targeting foreign imports with tariffs.
🔹 Tire Tariffs on China (2009): In an attempt to protect domestic manufacturers, Obama imposed a 35% tariff on imported Chinese tires. However, rather than addressing inefficiencies within the auto and manufacturing industries, his administration used tariffs as a band-aid solution while pushing massive subsidies for failing businesses like Solyndra.
🔹 Solar Panels and Wind Towers (2012): Imposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese solar panels and wind turbines, all while handing billions of dollars in taxpayer money to failed green energy companies.
🔹 Government Expansion Over Efficiency: Instead of firing redundant federal employees and cutting unnecessary agencies, Obama’s administration oversaw the largest increase in federal employees since the 1970s, adding tens of thousands of government workers while claiming to promote economic efficiency.
Joe Biden (2021–Present): Doubling Down on Tariffs While Wasting Taxpayer Money
The Biden administration has continued many of the tariffs from the previous administration while failing to take any meaningful steps toward reducing wasteful spending or downsizing the bloated federal workforce.
🔹 Continuation of China Tariffs: Despite previous Democratic criticism of Trump’s tariffs, Biden has kept most tariffs on Chinese goods intact, proving that his party only opposes tariffs when they’re not the ones imposing them.
🔹 Tariffs on Russian Goods (2022): Biden imposed tariffs on various Russian imports without addressing the rising inflation and economic downturn at home.
🔹 Refusal to Cut Government Waste: Federal agencies under Biden have grown in both spending and size, adding thousands of unnecessary federal employees while failing to address mismanagement in key agencies like the IRS, EPA, and Department of Education.
🔹 Massive Spending Instead of Downsizing: The Biden administration has prioritized expanding the federal budget and funding bloated social programs, rather than implementing real economic reforms that could reduce government waste.
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Trump’s Tariff Strategy Pressures Ontario to Revoke Electricity Surcharges
In a decisive move to protect American economic interests, President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday an increase in tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50%. This action prompted Ontario Premier Doug Ford to retract the province’s planned 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the United States, marking a significant victory for the administration’s assertive trade policies.
Firm Stance on Trade
President Trump’s decision to escalate tariffs underscores his commitment to addressing trade imbalances and prioritizing American industries. By targeting key sectors such as steel and aluminum, the administration aims to bolster domestic production and safeguard jobs. The President emphasized that these measures are essential to counteract unfair practices and ensure a level playing field for American workers.
Ontario’s Prompt Response
The swift reaction from Ontario’s leadership highlights the effectiveness of the tariff strategy. Premier Ford’s agreement to eliminate the proposed electricity surcharge demonstrates the leverage gained through firm trade negotiations. This development not only prevents potential increases in energy costs for U.S. consumers but also reinforces the administration’s resolve in protecting national economic interests.
Advancing Fiscal Responsibility
Beyond trade, President Trump has implemented measures to reduce government expenditure and promote fiscal responsibility. Notably, the U.S. Department of Education is set to lay off approximately half of its 4,000 employees, reflecting the administration’s efforts to streamline federal operations and delegate more control to states. Similarly, the Inter-American Foundation has reduced its staff to a single employee, aligning with the President’s objective to minimize unnecessary federal spending
Commitment to a Balanced Budget
These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to achieve a balanced federal budget. By curbing excessive spending and enhancing revenue through targeted tariffs, the administration seeks to reduce the national deficit and foster long-term economic stability. The recent trade developments with Ontario exemplify how assertive policies can yield tangible benefits for the American economy.
In summary, President Trump’s augmentation of tariffs on Canadian metals has not only led to the withdrawal of Ontario’s electricity surcharge but also underscores the administration’s dedication to fiscal prudence and the protection of American industries. These actions reflect a strategic approach to governance aimed at securing economic prosperity and maintaining a balanced budget.
The United States has a long history of both imposing and facing tariffs, with foreign nations implementing such measures to protect their domestic industries or in retaliation to U.S. trade policies. These tariffs have varied in duration and impact, reflecting the complexities of international trade relations.
Historical Instances of Tariffs Imposed on the U.S.
The Pork War (1880s): In the 1880s, several European countries, including Germany, Italy, and France, banned U.S. pork imports, citing health concerns over trichinosis. This ban, driven partly by protectionist motives to shield local farmers from American competition, lasted over a decade. The dispute, known as the “Pork War,” ended in 1891 after the U.S. threatened to impose counter-tariffs on European goods. en.wikipedia.org
Retaliation to the Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act (1930): The U.S. enacted the Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act in 1930, raising tariffs on numerous imports. In response, countries like Canada, France, and Spain imposed tariffs on American goods, leading to a significant decline in U.S. exports. These retaliatory tariffs remained in effect until trade agreements were renegotiated in the mid-1930s. en.wikipedia.org
Chicken Tax (1960s):
In the early 1960s, the U.S. began exporting inexpensive chicken to Europe, leading to a significant increase in consumption and market disruption for European poultry producers. Accusations of dumping and health concerns led countries like France and West Germany to impose tariffs and bans on U.S. chicken imports. In retaliation, the U.S. implemented a 25% tariff on light trucks from Europe, a measure that persists today and is known as the “Chicken Tax.” en.wikipedia.org
Byrd Amendment Dispute (2000–2005):
The Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000, commonly known as the Byrd Amendment, allowed U.S. companies to receive funds collected from anti-dumping duties. The EU and other countries challenged this act at the World Trade Organization (WTO), which ruled it illegal. In response, the EU imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, including paper products, textiles, and machinery, until the amendment’s repeal in 2005. en.wikipedia.org
Airbus-Boeing Dispute (2004–2021):
A long-standing dispute over subsidies to aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing led both the U.S. and the EU to impose tariffs. In 2019, the WTO authorized the U.S. to impose tariffs on $7.5 billion worth of European goods due to illegal subsidies to Airbus. Subsequently, in 2020, the WTO allowed the EU to impose tariffs on $4 billion worth of U.S. goods in response to subsidies provided to Boeing. These tariffs affected various products, including aircraft, food, and industrial goods, until a truce was reached in 2021. en.wikipedia.org
Recent Tariffs on U.S. Goods
- European Union (EU) Tariffs (2025): In response to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, the EU announced countermeasures affecting approximately €26 billion worth of U.S. goods. These measures targeted products such as bourbon whiskey, jeans, and motorcycles, primarily from Republican-leaning states. The EU’s tariffs are set to be implemented in phases, starting April 1, 2025, with additional measures planned for mid-April.
- China’s Tariffs During the Ongoing Trade War (2018–Present): Since 2018, the U.S. and China have been engaged in a trade war, with both nations imposing tariffs on each other’s goods. China has targeted various U.S. exports, including agricultural products like soybeans and pork, as well as automobiles and chemicals. These tariffs have fluctuated with ongoing negotiations but have persisted for several years, reflecting the prolonged nature of the trade dispute.