Opinion: How Trump's recently signed trade deals will benefit South Carolina

When President Trump was sworn into office, he made a commitment to restore American businesses’ competitiveness on the world stage. And for those following his progress toward fulfilling that promise, January was a big month. On Jan. 15, the president signed “Phase One” of a new trade deal with China, and on Jan. 29, he signed the implementing language for an updated North American trade agreement, known as USMCA. 

The signing of the China deal comes at a time when presidential candidates on the other side of the aisle have been disparaging the administration for its tough stance, but the Chinese have gotten away with egregious trade practices, along with the theft of intellectual property, for decades. These practices left American businesses and farmers at a severe disadvantage. It was long past time for a change, and I believe President Trump should be applauded – not denigrated – for his hard stance on China. 

The recently signed “Phase One” deal includes stronger protections for American companies in regard to intellectual property, and China has committed to a $200 billion increase in imports of American goods and services over the next two years. This commitment includes an increase of $32 billion in agricultural products alone. Reductions in non-tariff barriers for the U.S. agricultural market mean even more growth, opportunity, and prosperity for an already booming economy. 

The signing of USMCA represents similarly good news, particularly for people here in South Carolina. This deal, between Mexico, Canada, and the United States, is expected to create more than 176,000 new American jobs for blue-collar workers and add an additional $68 billion to our nation's growing economy. In 2018, South Carolina exported more than $33.9 billion worth of manufactured goods worldwide. An increase in exports would be a boon for local jobs and continue to boost our Upstate economy. 

As South Carolina’s top trading partners, Canada and Mexico receive part of the approximately $751 million in exported agricultural goods from our state annually. In fact, more than 6,300 jobs across the state are tied to agriculture, and these new deals will be significant for all of South Carolina’s farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses.

We have seen in recent months how the economy across the Palmetto State continues to boom. We are experiencing record low unemployment, more investment in Upstate manufacturing, and middle-class families have received a substantial tax cut. The policies our Republican leadership has instituted on both the state and federal levels are working.  

Unfortunately, while these deals will bring about new opportunities for many across our state, 2020 Democratic candidates remain skeptical of them for no other reason than that President Trump’s name is attached to them.

The policies they are pushing would devastate the economic success that South Carolina and the rest of the country are enjoying. Between now and November, we need to work hard to ensure that we elect candidates – pro-growth, pro-market, Republican candidates – who are committed to maintaining and growing America’s competitiveness around the world. It is imperative that we build upon the successes we have enjoyed for the past four years. 

Rep. William Timmons of Greenville, a Republican, represents South Carolina’s Fourth District in Congress.