Vice President Harris was asked to respond to the Biden administration's decision to maintain some of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. In her response, she highlighted the negative impact of the Trump administration's trade policies, pointing out that they led to a significant trade deficit, one of the highest in American history.
She criticized Trump's approach to trade, stating that he initiated trade wars and made deals that were detrimental to American interests. Specifically, she mentioned the sale of American chips to China under Trump's presidency, which she argued helped China enhance its military capabilities at the expense of American security.
Vice President Harris emphasized the importance of focusing on strategic priorities in trade policy, such as winning the competition for the 21st century. She stressed the need to prioritize relationships with allies, invest in American technology, and support the American workforce to ensure competitiveness in areas like artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
Regarding Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vice President Harris criticized his praise for President Xi of China, despite China's lack of transparency about the origins of the virus. She highlighted a tweet in which Trump thanked President Xi, suggesting that it was inappropriate given the circumstances.
In summary, Vice President Harris's response underscored the Biden administration's commitment to a more strategic and collaborative approach to trade and national security, contrasting it with what she portrayed as the shortcomings of the Trump administration's policies.