This is the transcription of an interview that was aired by Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation” on March 16, 2020 with Rep. Debbie Dingell.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. Good to have you here, and happy early St. Patrick’s Day.
Rep. Debbie Dingell: Good morning, Representative.
MARGARET BRENNAN (Congresswoman): I’d like to discuss the impact of tariffs. You are from Michigan, the heart of manufacturing. Looking at the numbers, Michigan has lost over 220,000 manufacturing positions in the last 30 years. This week, the vice president visited Michigan. He says that this whole Trump strategy is all about industrial revival. Is it landing near you?
REP. DINGELL (D-CA): I answer this question differently than most. Tariffs are just one tool in my toolbox. If you remember, I predicted that Donald Trump would be the winner in 2-16 but nobody believed me. And I was correct. It was only one issue. The trade. NAFTA is one of the worst trade laws in American history. It sent thousands of jobs abroad. We renegotiated, and now we have USMCA. It’s like a pingpong-ball of auto industry. They are a tool we should be looking at. We need to use them against China. But I believe they’re only being used selectively. USMCA is being followed by the domestic automakers. It’s impossible that a part would be sent over the border multiple times in a month when they have an integrated inventory, production and production plans. So, I’d like to work with the current administration. I believe that the 25% tariff is too high. The burden is unfair. Autos are like a pingpong in a war. I want to bring manufacturing back home. I want to bring the supply chains home. Tariffs are a part of an industrial policy. We should do it so that everyone can plan.
MARGARET BRENNA: The automakers called President Trump. This was partially how the April 2 tariffs were lowered, through their persuasion. Have you any idea of how long it will take to build these plants and bring the manufacturing back home as President Trump wants?
REP. DINGELL : If everything went right – and in this world does anything go right? – it would take between two and three years. There are also many suppliers. And by the way we should immediately renegotiate USMCA. It’s about time we looked at it. I believe that we should treat Mexico and Canada differently as trading partners. Mexico–
MARGARET BRENNA: Secretary Rubio basically said bilateral.
REP. DINGELL: Totally. I- I–
MARGARET BRENAN: -not North America, as a continent.
REP. DINGELL: Totally. Canada would never allow China to build a factory in China, then sell it as a North American car. We must make sure this never happens. This is something I fully support. But, right now, when we’re discussing the aluminum and steel tariffs in this country, 60 percent of the aluminum that’s used in the United States comes from Canada. If you put a 25% tax on it, the profit from automobiles will be very low. It’s a- it’s a small– the companies can’t afford that. We have to find a solution. I’m not against trade policies. We have to make sure that we don’t destroy the auto industry. I do not believe Donald Trump is trying to destroy it. I believe we need to all work together to maintain the strength of our domestic auto industry. Even as we are doing Canada and Mexico do you know that Korea and Japan can still bring in 2.5 million cars, Korea without tariffs, and Japan 2.5. Not treating everyone equally.
MARGARET BRENNAN : S&P Global has predicted that North American auto production could drop by 20,000 vehicles a day starting this week. This is due to the tariffs. It’s having a negative impact.
Rep. Dingell: All companies require certainty. Automobiles need certainty. Automobiles need to be certain.
MARGARET BRENAN: Are you speaking to the Trade Representative or the Commerce Secretary? There is any conversation?
REP. DINGELL : I haven’t spoken to the Commerce Secretary. I have spoken to Bob Lighthizer, with whom I worked closely.
MARGARET BRENAN: Former advisor
REP. DINGELL : –the former advisor on trade. And I worked closely with President Trump for two years. I was totally confident that he would be the winner. Democrats have done a poor job on trade.
MARGARET BRENNAN : In terms of Democrats’ performance, what did you see this week? We were very close to a government shutdown. In the end, Democrats in Senate voted with Republicans to approve this short-term funding agreement. Senator Murphy from Connecticut said on another network today that it would be a risk for the government to shut down, but he thought it was worth it.
Rep. Dingell: You know,–
MARGARET BRENNAN : Do you agree?
REP. DINGELL (D-VA): In the House we were almost all in agreement, except for one person. And there was a lot of disagreement about what the Senate should be doing.
MARGARET BRENNAN : Chuck Schumer, the Senate Leader would say that you were able do this because there was wiggle-room on votes.
REP. DINGELL: But I’m gonna–
MARGARET BRENAN: -The republicans voted in a bloc.
REP. DINGELL : I believe he sent mixed signals. I don’t think it would be a problem if —
MARGARET BRENNAN: Schumer did?
REP. DINGELL : Senator Schumer has sent mixed signals. Last week, I spoke to many laborers. AFGE’s employees, who were the ones most affected, were torn between what to do. They were concerned for their employees so I meet with them daily when I am out there. But they decided against supporting it because they felt they had already been harmed. DOGE was given a free pass to do what it wanted. People are hurt because they don’t include Congress and do not follow its rules. Margaret, the people are angry. Let’s move on. Reconciliation is near. Reconciliation is coming.
MARGARET BRENNA: Can Leader Jeffries really maintain such unity in the House?
REP. DINGELL : He proved to you last week that he was capable of doing it. And I can tell that- I don’t believe anyone has been home. My town halls will look like Republican town halls if you are home. I don’t take it personally. People are scared. People want us to do something.
MARGARET BRENNA: Is that to say people are shouting?
REP. DINGELL : They’re scared of what will happen to them – especially seniors. I went to see my asthma doctor and while there, a woman with a child in a wheel chair started crying alongside me. What will you do to allow my child to come here?
Thank you, Congresswoman. For today, we’ll leave it at that. We’ll return in a few moments.
