Transcript - Remarks: Donald Trump Signs Washing Machine, Solar Tariff Proclamations - January 23, 2018 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:13 (14 sec)

Thank you very much, and welcome to everyone. I'm thrilled to be joined by Ambassador Lighthizer as I sign a very important executive action to protect American jobs and American workers.

Donald Trump

00:00:13 - 00:00:27 (14 sec)

We appreciate, Bob, your efforts. You've worked so hard and so long with our team. And it's all happening, and it's been happening at a very rapid rate. And you'll see what's going to take place over the next number of months.

Donald Trump

00:00:27 - 00:00:43 (16 sec)

Based on the recommendation of the independent, bipartisan U.S. International Trade Commission, I am taking action to impose safeguard tariffs on imported residential washing machines and all solar products.

Donald Trump

00:00:43 - 00:00:59 (16 sec)

My administration is committed to defending American companies, and they've been very badly hurt from harmful import surges that threaten the livelihood of their workers, of jobs, actually, all over this country -- many different industries.

Donald Trump

00:00:59 - 00:01:11 (12 sec)

Today, I'm also directing Ambassador Lighthizer to continue supporting industry discussions to resolve duties on these and similar products in the United States and China.

Donald Trump

00:01:11 - 00:01:23 (11 sec)

We support a resolution that is in the interest of American workers and, also, the American consumer. We're going to benefit our consumers, and we're going to create a lot of jobs.

Donald Trump

00:01:23 - 00:01:41 (18 sec)

Our action today helps to create jobs in America for Americans. It will provide a strong incentive for LG and Samsung to follow through on their recent promises to build major manufacturing plants for washing machines right here in the United States.

Donald Trump

00:01:41 - 00:02:06 (25 sec)

When we do this, a lot of manufacturers will be coming to the United States to build washing machines and also solar. For both solar and washing machines, these executive actions uphold the principle of fair trade and demonstrate to the world that the United States will not be taken advantage of anymore. Our companies will not be taken advantage of anymore.

Donald Trump

00:02:06 - 00:02:16 (10 sec)

And our workers are going to have lots of really great jobs with products that are going to be made in the good old USA. And that's what this is all about.

Donald Trump

00:02:16 - 00:02:43 (27 sec)

So, I'm going to start signing. We'll go here first. This is to facilitate positive adjustment to competition from imports of large residential washers and washing machines, et cetera. Thank you. [Proclamation is signed]

Donald Trump

00:02:43 - 00:03:28 (45 sec)

It's a very big industry, and you're going to have a lot of plants built in the United States that were thinking of coming, but they would've never come unless we did this. Big industry. A lot bigger than people would understand. And this is similar, but this is for solar products so that we'll be making solar products now much more so in the United States. Our companies have been decimated, and those companies are going to be coming back strong. [Proclamation is signed]

Donald Trump

00:03:28 - 00:04:16 (48 sec)

So this is panels and products -- generally, solar. Potentially great industry in this country, but now we'll be making it in the United States. Okay. A lot of workers; a lot of jobs. And these are our letters to the Speaker of the House, and essentially saying, "Let's go. We're done. We're ready."" And this will start very rapidly. [Proclamation is signed]"

Donald Trump

00:04:16 - 00:04:44 (28 sec)

Okay, this to the Speaker. And I think I'll give this pen to Mr. Robert Lighthizer. We're, as you know, negotiating a new deal with NAFTA. We're renegotiating our deal with South Korea, which has turned out to be a disaster for this country. It was a deal that was going to create 200,000 jobs, and we lost 200,000 jobs. We're renegotiating that.

Donald Trump

00:04:44 - 00:04:56 (12 sec)

NAFTA is moving along pretty well. I happen to be of the opinion that if it doesn’t work out, we'll terminate it. But I think you're doing pretty well, Bob, from what I understand. So we'll see how it all works out.

Donald Trump

00:04:56 - 00:05:18 (21 sec)

And we'll be doing other trade deals. We're in the process of negotiating with other countries also, all of which have treated us very unfairly. We had very poor representation for many years and it's hurt our workers, it's hurt our factories, it's hurt our companies, and that is stopping. And you're seeing what's happening with the stock market. People are appreciating what we're doing.

Donald Trump

00:05:18 - 00:05:41 (23 sec)

The biggest thing we've done, probably, is regulation, and followed closely behind by the greatest tax cuts in the history of our country. But I think regulation is on par with that. So a lot of people are watching us. I'm going to Davos. We'll be talking about investing in the United States again, for people to come in and spend their money in the good old USA.

Donald Trump

00:05:41 - 00:06:06 (25 sec)

And that's what they're doing. We have massive amounts of money coming in. Apple, as you know, just announced they're going to spend $350 billion in the United States, which I believe is the largest amount ever invested in this country by a company -- $350 billion. Jobs all over the place, all over the country. They're going to build a magnificent campus.

Donald Trump

00:06:06 - 00:06:25 (19 sec)

We have other people coming in -- other companies. I've been called by at least 10 major executives, and they're going to be announcing very shortly major investments in the country and major investments for the people of our country. Really, almost more than anything, else we need jobs.

Donald Trump

00:06:25 - 00:06:37 (12 sec)

So we're bringing business back to the United States for the first time in many, many years -- many, many decades, really. And we're very proud of it and that's why the stock market is reacting the way it is. Okay. Thank you all very much.

Question

00:06:37 - 00:06:41 (3 sec)

Mr. President, are you concerned about what the Attorney General told the Special Counsel?

Donald Trump

00:06:41 - 00:06:42 (2 sec)

No, I'm not at all concerned. Not at all.

Question

00:06:42 - 00:06:45 (2 sec)

Did you talk to him about it? Did you talk to the Attorney General?

Donald Trump

00:06:45 - 00:06:49 (4 sec)

No, I didn't. But I'm not at all concerned. Thank you all very much.

Question

00:06:49 - 00:06:51 (2 sec)

Did Christopher Wray threaten to resign?

Donald Trump

00:06:51 - 00:06:52 (1 sec)

No. He didn't at all.

Question

00:06:52 - 00:06:53 (1 sec)

He did not threaten --

Donald Trump

00:06:53 - 00:06:54 (1 sec)

He did not even, a little bit. Nope. He's going to do a good job.

Question

00:06:54 - 00:06:55 (1 sec)

Planning steel and aluminum tariffs as well?

Donald Trump

00:06:55 - 00:06:55 (0 sec)

We're looking at it. We're looking at a lot of things.

Question

00:06:55 - 00:06:55 (0 sec)

Are you concerned about the senior leadership at the FBI?

Donald Trump

00:06:55 - 00:06:56 (1 sec)

We'll see how it all works out.

Question

00:06:56 - 00:06:58 (2 sec)

Are you concerned about sparking a trade war with this action?

Donald Trump

00:06:58 - 00:07:12 (14 sec)

Thank you all very much. There won't be a trade war, by the way. There will only be stock increases for the companies that are in this country. And that's what happened today. If you look at solar and you look at the washing machine companies, that's really what happened today. You're going to have people getting jobs again, and we're going to make our own product again. It's been a long time. Thank you all very much. Thank you.