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Rubio articulated Trump’s perspective that the U.S. must reset the trade balance to foster fairness and reciprocity in international agreements. He described tariffs not merely as punitive measures but as essential tools to negotiate favorable terms with other countries. The rationale behind this strategy, according to Rubio, is simple: the U.S. cannot sustain an economy where production capabilities have been relinquished in favor of cheaper foreign labor, contributing to de-industrialization.
This notion of resetting the trade landscape is fundamental to Rubio's argument. He acknowledges the “unsustainable position” of American workers being undermined by international competitors leveraging cheap labor to flood the U.S. market with inexpensive goods.