To the editor:

President Trump is correct in that one of the oldest and easiest taxes to collect is tariffs.

We owe our independence from England on tariffs levied against us to pay off the French and Indian War. The resulting higher taxes we paid on English goods resulted in the Boston Tea Party and the War for Independence. Trump is also correct in that after World War II to help rebuild Europe, Japan, and Germany from the war’s devastation we lowered our tariffs far lower than our trading partners to help them rebuild.

This was in 1947, and in 80 years they have essentially remained the same. They have been taking advantage of us, just as in NATO, with us paying a greater share. It’s time this error is corrected, and even reversed to make up for all the years we have been slighted. What he is doing should of been done years ago. It may cause a temporary increase in prices, but be patient and hang in there for fair tariffs and trade.

Dr. John J. Conrad,

Salem