In the past several weeks the mounting debate over tariffs has created an ideological split among conservatives. While the popularity of Donald Trump united some centrists and right-leaning voters, he also drew in those who traditionally might have leaned Democrat, even those who sought to vote for the first time. He tapped into the frustrations of the American people, many of whom felt downtrodden by the government, progressive cultural trends, and global politics.
Therein lies the challenge: the Trump administration unites Americans over fundamental fairness, but can divide over core principles of conservatives, like free-market economic policies. We cheered when his DOGE team uncovered waste and abuse by those who took billions from the taxpayers’ well, but did little to help their community at large. We cheered when they uncovered false accounts stealing entitlement benefits. The audits are ongoing and there will likely be many more discoveries, but those are concrete examples, not just theoretical, of the abuse that millions of Americans felt for years.
However, the cost of tariffs is not theoretical either. The increased cost of goods from tariffs impacts North Carolinians directly, and the rising cost of living is a primary reason 77,284,118 voters cast their ballots for Donald Trump less than six months ago. Yes, he has widespread support, and, yes, this is about fairness. But this is also about fairness for business owners and consumers to operate the economy free from the heavy hand of government and global bureaucrats, a policy strategy that made America what it is.
Upholding free-market principles, even when it is difficult, is how America became the economic superpower we are in the first place. In a globally integrated economy, like North Carolina with our manufacturing, agriculture, and export-dependent industries, we are on the frontlines of this policy debate. We stand to lose the most if misguided protectionism takes hold. It is imperative that we reject tariffs as a tool of emotional populism.
Framed as policy to restore “fairness” in global trade, those who remain fiercely in support of the policy see it as long overdue corrective mechanisms to punish countries for exploiting America’s generosity and prosperity. There is no doubt that the European Union has used its collective strength to push the United States into a trade corner, and the weak leadership of the Biden administration has yielded ground to other nations that Trump and his supporters want to reclaim. Tariffs are seen as a sign of national strength and exercising our hard-earned economic position of power.
It resonates with those who’ve struggled under poor economic policies of the past, suffered job loss to other nations, or see that the European Union benefits from access to the American consumers, but protects its own economy with trade barriers. They are not wrong: but is raising tariffs the answer?
It is easy to say, “Just buy American,” as the solution to bypass increased prices due to tariffs, but tariffs actually function as taxes on consumers and businesses. North Carolina manufacturers who rely on imported raw materials would see production costs rise. “Buy American” will not shield consumers from tariffs in buying a car, for example. The raw materials of industrial goods — the steel, car parts, fabrics, and tires — are likely all subject to the tariffs. Where it is made, or the nationality of the company, is largely irrelevant.
For North Carolina farmers, already squeezed by volatile markets and regulatory uncertainty, they could lose access to vital overseas buyers in retaliatory tariffs. North Carolina’s booming ports, our biotech and textile exports, they are not the product of protectionism. They are the result of a market-based approach that rewards entrepreneurship and competition.
On Wednesday, Trump instituted a 90-day pause on new tariffs, except China, leading many say that the tariff talk is a threat, a bargaining chip to bring other nations to the table. This highlights the faith and trust that Americans have in President Trump. His administration has delivered on campaign promises, cleaning up generations of government waste, challenging the progressive status quo in education, and securing the border. This has inspired Trump voters to bide their time over tariffs. However, the damage of tariffs, if a bluff is called, could be a self-inflicted wound that resonates far into 2026 and 2028, jeopardizing the strides made in what is arguably the most impactful policy reforms of any president in modern history.
America’s prosperity has come from embracing open markets and innovation, not protectionism. Conservatives should reject the tariff plan, not because they don’t want other nations to be held accountable, or they don’t want fairness in America’s global economic policy. They should reject it because free trade is a proven strategy. Competition and free-market policy has delivered decades of prosperity to America by rewarding innovation, lowering costs for consumers, and allowing businesses to compete globally.
Tariffs wouldn’t punish foreign governments — they’d punish North Carolinians.
