“My fellow Americans, Prime Minister Nakasone of Japan will be visiting me here at the White House next week. It’s an important visit because, while I expect to take up our relations — When someone says, ‘Let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports —’ When someone says, ‘Let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports,’ it looks like they’re doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes for a short while, it works, but only for a short time. But over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer. High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars. Then the worst happens. Markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down and millions of people lose their jobs. Throughout the world, there’s a growing realization that the way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition. America’s jobs and growth are at stake.” “We can’t control the trade policy of the United States. We recognize that that policy has fundamentally changed. We stand ready to pick up on that progress and build on that progress.”