Sen. McCaskill visits Cape, talks tariff 'damage'

Siding with an organization she often opposes, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill attacked President Donald Trump�s tariff actions during a campaign stop Friday in Cape Girardeau.

McCaskill spoke at the Democratic Party field office at 20 N. Pacific St. alongside Cap America chairman and CEO Phillip Page and Cap America president and COO Mark Gammon to discuss how Trump�s newly enacted tariffs are affecting Missouri�s economy.

�I sometimes don�t find myself on the same page with the Chamber of Commerce, but I sure do on this one,� McCaskill said as she approached the crowd.

She said both the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have been working to point out �damage� that is going to be done when the United States gets into a �full-blown retaliatory trade war.�

McCaskill said she understands the urge to go after the �cheaters,� and said she has ways to go after them.

�As you all know, I�ve been part of efforts to go to the ITC and testify and get punishment against China when it cheats and dumps products into this country,� she said.

That can be done, she said, and applicable laws can be enforced without getting into �a full-blown trade war� she said harms Missouri agriculture and manufacturers.

She referred to Mid Continent Nail Corp. in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, as an example. Mid Continent Nail laid off employees in June because a 25 percent tariff on steel that started June 1 raised the price on the wire used to make the nails and is pricing Mid Continent out of the market, George Skarich, the company�s executive vice president for sales, said at the time.

But McCaskill said �dozens of companies� are also suffering because of a �looming� future, in terms of increased costs and retaliation against the products they export.

Farmington, Missouri-based Cap America represents one more similar story, she explained.

�This is a story about their having to pay more for their input costs because of tariffs that we�re placing on products that their company takes and finishes,� McCaskill said.

Cap America�s Page founded the company in 1985 in Fredericktown, Missouri. He said his company now has 275 employees, and operates as an �importer.� He said Cap America did not initially start out as an importer, but was forced to because of the recent economic shift.

The company sells headwear exclusively to distributors of promotional products and advertising specialties, according to its website, and Page said 85 percent of the company�s sales are derived from importing black caps from China.

�We�re very concerned about these tariffs, because it puts us in a position we don�t know how to price our goods,� Page said. �In reality, this thing is a tax, and it�s almost like it�s unfettered in terms of where it�s going.�

Gammon said the business imports �the most inexpensive� part of the production process, with 60 percent of its cost of goods being manufactured in Southeast Missouri.

�We will decorate between 15,000 and 20,000 caps today,� Gammon said. �To do that, we need 270 employees. This tariff directly affects our ability to be competitive at price.�

McCaskill said there are �so many� places similar to Cap America, where employees are going to work everyday not knowing whether their job is going to be there �down the line.�

She reiterated a recent statement from the Missouri Chamber labeling the tariffs as �nothing more than a tax increase on American consumers and businesses, including manufacturers, farmers and technology companies who will all pay more for commonly used products and materials.�

�I don�t fight the president on everything; I think that�s the wrong thing to do,� McCaskill said, adding the U.S. should continue efforts to prevent China�s �cheating.� �I agree with the president on many things.� McCaskill said she would �love� to get back to working on Missouri�s infrastructure, which she feels is �so important� to the state�s well-being. McCaskill also stressed the importance of working to bring down prescription drug prices.

Meeting with Kavanaugh

Immediately after the speech, McCaskill addressed the issue of Brett Kavanaugh, Trump�s U.S. Supreme Court nominee.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate and current Attorney General Josh Hawley said Thursday that McCaskill �won�t even meet with him.� McCaskill�s office, however, said late Friday she would meet with Kavanaugh on Aug. 21.

McCaskill said Hawley has �said a lot of things that aren�t true in this campaign. Of course I will meet with Judge Kavanaugh.�

�And of course, here�s the thing: If I would have immediately made a decision, Josh Hawley would�ve said I wasn�t looking at it carefully. And because I�m looking at it carefully, he says I won�t meet with him. It�s politics; it�s just politics. I am looking at it very carefully, like I have every nominee.�

She stressed the fact she has approved 78 percent of President Trump�s judicial nominees, �so clearly I�m not an obstructionist.�

jhartwig@semissourian.com

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