Tariffs Done Right: Turning Short-Term Strategy Into Long-Term Strength

By Jason S. Arnold

Gubernatorial Candidate – New York 2026

www.TurnNYRed.us

Date: April 5, 2025

Contact: jaysarnold@icloud.com | (516) 882-6275

When President Trump first imposed tariffs on foreign goods, it sparked fierce debate—some saw it as bold patriotism, others feared economic fallout. As a Republican candidate for governor of New York and a believer in strong economic nationalism, I support the principle of tariffs as a strategic economic weapon. But here’s the truth: tariffs alone will not solve our nation’s manufacturing crisis. Without a plan at both the federal and state level, tariffs can backfire—raising prices, hurting small businesses, and damaging our global credibility.

This is not about being “for” or “against” tariffs. It’s about making them work for the American people—through vision, discipline, and action.

The Short-Term Benefits of Tariffs

Let’s acknowledge what the Trump tariffs got right:

Leverage Against China: Tariffs forced the Chinese Communist Party to face consequences for intellectual property theft and unfair trade practices. Raised Awareness: Americans woke up to the danger of depending on foreign supply chains, especially for pharmaceuticals, electronics, and steel. Initial Industry Boost: Domestic manufacturing in some sectors saw short-term gains as companies scrambled to avoid penalties.

These were necessary wake-up calls. President Trump recognized that economic warfare had already been declared on us—and tariffs were a long-overdue counterstrike.

But Here’s the Problem

The mistake was assuming tariffs alone would rebuild America. They didn’t.

Without synchronized efforts at the state and federal level, tariffs become a tax on working families and small businesses. The cost of imported goods rises. Retaliatory tariffs hurt our farmers. And our supply chains become tangled in red tape and uncertainty.

That’s why we must now finish what Trump started—by following up with real policy.

A 50-State Strategy to Back Tariffs with Action

If tariffs are to work, every state must play a role. Here’s what we need across all 50 states—starting right here in New York:

1. Statewide Manufacturing Revival Programs

Create state-level tax incentives for manufacturers who relocate or expand within our borders. Prioritize vocational education and skilled trade training in public high schools and community colleges. Launch Buy American state procurement policies—where taxpayer-funded projects use U.S.-made steel, tools, and tech.

2. Zoning and Regulatory Reform

Streamline zoning and permitting processes to fast-track factory development. Cut red tape and offer environmental fast lanes for clean-tech manufacturing.

3. State-Funded Innovation Hubs

Invest in state-backed research parks and advanced manufacturing incubators in rural and post-industrial areas. Focus on sectors where tariffs can spark growth—semiconductors, green tech, biotech, and defense components.

4. Job Placement and Workforce Development

Build public-private partnerships that train workers for reshoring companies. Offer state hiring subsidies for companies committed to hiring veterans, the formerly incarcerated, and those in recovery.

Federal Government Must Do Its Part

While states lay the foundation, the federal government must scale the blueprint. Here’s what Washington must get right to make tariffs sustainable:

1. A Clear, Strategic Tariff Map

Tariffs should be targeted, temporary, and tied to benchmarks. We need a National Tariff Commission to track outcomes and revise rates in real-time, not leave them on autopilot for years.

2. Domestic Supply Chain Reconstruction

Invest in logistics, infrastructure, and warehousing to build alternatives to foreign shipping routes. Provide federal grants and guaranteed loans for companies building domestic production lines.

3. Stop Picking Winners—Level the Playing Field

Don’t just protect steel or aluminum. Extend support to small manufacturers, farmers, and startups with new tariff-related relief programs. Establish a “Made in America Credit” for companies that reach 75% U.S.-based sourcing.

4. Trade Accountability from Allies

Use tariffs not just as a punishment—but as negotiating leverage to secure better trade deals with our allies. Rebuild strong regional trade agreements that reward North American and European cooperation while limiting CCP influence.

Case Study: What New York Must Do Now

As governor, I will lead New York in showing the country how a state can turn tariffs into opportunity:

Reclaim abandoned manufacturing zones and repurpose closed prisons as economic development centers. Use our Empire State infrastructure—airports, ports, railways—to become a global logistics hub for reshored industries. Establish the New York Reshoring Fund—public-private investment pools to bring manufacturing back upstate and into working-class communities.

This isn’t theory. This is a blueprint. And New York, once the Empire of industry, will rise again.

Tariffs Are a Tool—Not a Plan

We cannot let tariffs become the new talking point without the follow-through. They’re not the destination—they’re the starting line.

Tariffs done right:

Defend American jobs Protect national security Boost working-class opportunity

Tariffs done wrong:

Trigger inflation Alienate allies Punish the very people we aim to protect

This is our moment to choose wisely. We need more than slogans—we need synchronized reform across all 50 states and a federal government that finally puts America First with substance, not just style.

I support tariffs.

But I also support the hard work that must come with them.

Let’s make tariffs work—for us, not against us.

Jason S. Arnold

Gubernatorial Candidate – New York 2026

www.TurnNYRed.us

Email: jaysarnold@icloud.com

Phone: (516) 882-6275

Social: @jaynation4547 (GETTR, X, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram)

Tagline: Patriotism, Politics, and the Path to Red

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