MAINE MORNING STAR • January 16, 2025
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine has reintroduced legislation to impose a 10% tariff on all imports, doubling down on his push as President-Elect Donald Trump, who has said he’d support such a tax, takes office next week. Golden’s legislation would put a 10% tariff on all goods and services imported into the U.S. Each subsequent calendar year, the tax would increase or decrease by 5% depending on whether the U.S. is in a trade deficit or surplus, respectively. Conservative think tanks championing trade-protectionist policy have voiced support for Golden’s proposal. Tariffs are popular with voters while economists are, and long have been, skeptical of their merits. When Trump imposed heavy tariffs in 2018, iconic Maine industries — lobster and blueberry — faced retaliation from China and the European Union.