Area congressman urges Trump to follow a ‘better way’ on trade

A local congressman and former owner of a Troy-area manufacturers is urging President Trump and his administration to consider a “better way” in international trade.

Warren Davidson, in a recent op-ed for the Washington Times, cautions the administration against alienating too many nations at once in navigating trade issues.

“Many of the principles of war apply to trade,” Davidson, R-Troy, wrote in the piece. “Perhaps the most basic is that, from Sun Tzu through WWII and more modern wars, multiplying your enemies never results in victory. Instead, effective strategy should multiply allies.”

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Trump and his administration have levied tariffs and threats of tariffs against Canada, the European Union, Iran, China and elsewhere in recent months. Critics warn that so much friction in so many directions could isolate the United States.

“Tariff wars not only harm our adversaries, they harm our closest allies, and they harm America’s economy (American companies and America’s consumers),” Davidson wrote. “Consumers are already paying higher prices, and companies that have been driving the strong growth rate are changing their plans and cancelling capital investments.”

Davidson, a U.S. Army veteran and former owner of small Miami County manufacturing businesses, won a special election in June 2016 to take over the seat previously held by Speaker John Boehner, R-West Chester Twp.

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Davidson said he sold his interest in his manufacturing acquisitions when he entered Congress.

The Sidney native represents the sprawling 8th congressional district, which stretches from Butler County north nearly to Celina along the Ohio-Indiana border, encompassing Troy, Springfield and northern slices of Montgomery and Greene counties.

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