Gimenez Still Wants U.S. to 'Decouple' from China, 'Never Said it was Going to be Easy'

Gimenez Still Wants U.S. to 'Decouple' from China, 'Never Said it was Going to be Easy'

Grayson Bakich
Grayson Bakich
|
February 4, 2025

Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) discussed President Donald Trump's tariffs on countries such as Mexico, Canada, and China in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria. He said the United States should 'decouple' from China, which he acknowledged would be difficult but ultimately better for the U.S.

Rep. Gimenez praised the imposition of tariffs on Mexico, which was designed to force border security cooperation. President Trump ultimately paused after he spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Sheinbaum agreed to send 10,000 troops to the border to counter fentanyl trafficking. At the same time, the American soldiers stationed there would work to prevent arms trafficking into Mexico, pausing the tariffs' implementation for one month.

Regarding China, Rep. Gimenez said he "always thought we need to decouple," adding that "we are funding the instrument of our own demise" otherwise.

"I am very happy with the tariffs imposed on China as we push ourselves and try to wean ourselves from China because, again, every single dollar that we send to China is used against us, and they are the greatest adversary that we are facing right now and in the future, and we cannot help them overcome us either economically or militarily," the Florida Congressman continued.

Host Maria Bartiromo asked Gimenez about the potential impact of "decoupling" from the Chinese, which she warned could be "disruptive" due to the many cheap goods the U.S. imports.

"I never said it was going to be easy," the Florida Congressman replied, "but it took us 30 years to get to this point."

"We need to start to onshore or nearshore, or have those [Chinese-made] products be made by people that are our friends and not our enemies," Gimenez continued, comparing our reliance on China to an addiction.

"When you try to get out of an addiction, it is never easy. We just need to start doing it because if not, we are funding the instrument of our own demise," he reiterated.

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Grayson Bakich

Grayson Bakich

Florida born and raised, Grayson Bakich is a recent recipient of a Master’s Degree in Political Science at the University of Central Florida. His thesis examined recent trends in political polarization and how this leads into justification of violence.

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