Front Burner What did Reagan really believe about tariffs?
9 snips
Oct 30, 2025 
Rick Perlstein, a historian and author known for his deep dive into modern American conservatism, explores Ronald Reagan's nuanced views on tariffs and trade. He examines how Reagan believed high tariffs led to trade wars and job loss, contrasting these ideals with Trump's current aggressive trade stance. Perlstein discusses the controversy triggered by a Canadian ad quoting Reagan, critiquing how Reagan's legacy is used today and what he might think of the current GOP. The discussion reveals significant shifts in conservative thought and the complexities of Reagan’s practical politics.
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Reagan's Core Free-Trade Principle
- Ronald Reagan genuinely believed broad tariffs harm long-term American prosperity and trigger retaliatory trade wars.
- Rick Perlstein says Reagan's free-trade stance matched mainstream economics and contrasted with Trump's tariff-first approach.
Personal History Shaped Reagan's Views
- Reagan's family was hit hard by the Great Depression and his father lost everything.
- Perlstein connects that personal history to Reagan's opposition to protectionist policies like Smoot-Hawley.
Tariffs Can Raise Costs Without Building Industry
- Tariffs on imports often just raise prices when domestic capacity doesn't exist, offering no real U.S. benefit.
- Perlstein explains Trump's approach can increase costs without creating domestic industry, unlike measured trade remedies.
