3.
The ambassador called for a ban on “the importation of goods produced through forced labor” into the United States.
Certainly, we do not want forced labor to be used for products to be exported or to be sold in our domestic market.
Similarly, we also do not want compromises forced upon us.
In April last year, the Trump administration arbitrarily imposed unprecedentedly high tariffs across the world. With the exception of a few countries, most countries rejected those measures.
Even the European Union, one of America’s closest allies, postponed matters related to such agreements.
Ultimately, the United States itself was forced to significantly reduce and revise those tariff rates.
To understand why the Trump administration created such a situation, one has to look at the economic crisis facing the United States.
The US is now the most indebted country in the world, with debt amounting to almost one and a half times its GDP.
Almost every year, Congress makes big deals on raising the debt ceiling, while various institutions face closure due to financial shortfalls.
Why is the world’s richest and most powerful country in such a condition?
Because the policies adopted in the interest of big corporate houses – with subsidies and tax breaks – put huge pressure on the economy.
Furthermore, the administration borrows heavily to spend large sums on war and military industries.
The United States alone accounts for almost half of total global military expenditure.
The results are military invasions, occupations and mass killings around the world.
To maintain these expenses, debt is increasing.
And it doesn’t stop here.
This year, Donald Trump has asked Congress to increase military spending by two-thirds, bringing the amount to $1.5 trillion.
While essential sectors for the common people – such as education and healthcare – are deprived, the single largest budget allocation is heading towards destruction.
As a result, the budget deficit continues to grow, and this madness stems from the desire to shift the burden to weaker countries.
Because of this model of resource allocation, the United States, despite all its power, can never proudly say: “We have the best health care system in the world.”
Cuba can say this despite enduring six decades of US sanctions.
Nor can the US boast of having the best education system in the world or the best public safety system, as can many comparatively weaker countries.
Instead, Trump claims that the United States possesses the world’s most powerful weapons of destruction and mass murder.