A Trade President?

PRESIDENT Bush has gotten a lot of grief for imposing taxes on imported steel and for committing other sins against free trade. Conservatives and liberal editorial writers have found a rare accord in trashing Bush for putting politics over principle. Bush deserves much of the criticism. But the critics have not acknowledged the political realities the president must deal with. Bush made his protectionist moves in part, odd as it sounds, to promote free trade in adverse circumstances. If his strategy is flawed, free traders had better come up with a viable alternative.

The administration has not helped itself by resting the case for its policies on assertions that are plainly false. In a recent meeting with journalists, commerce secretary Don Evans argued that Bush had no choice under the law but to impose tariffs on steel. That is not true. The administration chose to ask the International Trade Commission to look into the steel industry. When the ITC recommended steel tariffs, Bush had, by law, unchecked discretion over what to do. He chose to impose even stiffer tariffs than recommended.

About the Author

Ramesh Ponnuru

Ramesh Ponnuru is the editor of National Review, a columnist for the Washington Post, and a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

Featured Tags

World Trade Organization

PRESIDENT Bush has gotten a lot of grief for imposing taxes on imported steel and for committing other sins against free trade. Conservatives and liberal editorial writers have found a rare accord in trashing Bush for putting politics over principle. Bush deserves much of the criticism. But the critics have not acknowledged the political realities the president must deal with. Bush made his protectionist moves in part, odd as it sounds, to promote free trade in adverse circumstances. If his strategy is flawed, free traders had better come up with a viable alternative.

The administration has not helped itself by resting the case for its policies on assertions that are plainly false. In a recent meeting with journalists, commerce secretary Don Evans argued that Bush had no choice under the law but to impose tariffs on steel. That is not true. The administration chose to ask the International Trade Commission to look into the steel industry. When the ITC recommended steel tariffs, Bush had, by law, unchecked discretion over what to do. He chose to impose even stiffer tariffs than recommended.