Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines appeared on Fox Business' "Mornings with Maria" to discuss his recent visit to China. During the visit, he relayed President Trump's America First message, underscoring the need to halt the flow of fentanyl precursors and safeguard American companies and producers.

Daines highlighted the economic impact of the China-U.S. relationship, noting that both countries' economies account for 43 percent of the global economy. He pointed to a growing drug crisis involving fentanyl, which he described as a significant danger with the potential to claim nearly 100,000 American lives each year. He said, "It’s time for results... They’ve got to take action. They’ve got to stop the flow, not slow it down."

Focusing on national security, Daines remarked, "President Trump is taking a very aggressive and hardline stance as he should." He emphasized the need for a strategic approach to technology and business interactions, highlighting opportunities for American companies like Boeing and FedEx that generate substantial revenue from China.

Daines also addressed trade issues, expressing disappointment over China's unmet commitments in the Phase One trade deal. He noted, "They were supposed to commit to $200 billion of additional U.S. purchases. They’ve fallen well short of that."

On domestic tax policy, Daines stressed the importance of tax permanency, warning against a potential $4.5 trillion tax increase. He stated, "We need permanence in our tax policy... we’ve got to deliver here in Washington is to make these tax cuts permanent."

He also weighed in on the debt ceiling, advocating for Republican-led measures, saying, "Either we’re gonna pass a debt ceiling increase with Republican votes or the alternative is to negotiate with Chuck Schumer."