Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged on Friday that the U.S. must “reset the global order of trade” and supported President Donald Trump in this endeavor.
Rubio, speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels, disagreed with a reporter’s assertion that world economies are collapsing due to Trump’s tariffs on “Liberation Day.”
“We need to shift our perspective as a nation, acknowledging that we are the largest consumer market globally, yet we primarily export services. We need to change that,” Rubio stated. “We need to return to a time when we are a country capable of manufacturing goods, and in order to achieve that, we must reset the global trade order.”
“Hence, the president has rightly determined that the current state of global trade is detrimental to America but beneficial to others. He intends to reset it, a decision that is absolutely correct,” Rubio continued.
WORLD LEADERS REACT TO TRUMP’S SWEEPING TARIFFS: ‘TUMULTUOUS TIMES’ AHEAD
Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks to reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool)
The secretary of state emphasized that the “worst possible action” the U.S. could take is to maintain the current global trade system indefinitely.
“It is simply unsustainable. We cannot persist as a nation that does not produce goods. We must have the capability to manufacture products to create employment opportunities for Americans… it’s that straightforward,” he elaborated. “For instance, with China.
SENATE APPROVES RESOLUTION AGAINST TRUMP’S CANADA TARIFFS HOURS AFTER ‘LIBERATION DAY’ EVENT
President Donald Trump holds a chart as he delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs during an event in the Rose Garden entitled “Make America Wealthy Again” at the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 2. (Getty Images)
Rubio added, “If a company manufactures many of its items in China and suddenly shareholders or individuals involved in the stock market realize that production costs in China will significantly rise, your company’s stock value will decrease. However, markets will adapt as long as there is clarity regarding the future rules and sustainability is ensured.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the U.S. has “to reset the global order of trade.” (AP/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Global businesses, particularly those engaged in trade, require certainty about the established rules. Once the rules are known, they will adjust accordingly,” he stated. “Therefore, it is inaccurate to claim that economies are collapsing. Markets are fluctuating due to the stock valuations of companies immersed in production practices that are damaging to the United States.”
