U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly has supported President Donald Trump on tariffs while citing the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA is one of Trump’s frequent talking points and one he uses to justify tariffs.

NAFTA did lead to job losses in some manufacturing industries. Industries we were no longer competitive in and jobs that were on their way to extinction with or without NAFTA.

What we seldom hear is how NAFTA increased high-tech jobs, fostering economic growth and export-related jobs leading to increased overall employment. Jobs that offered higher wages than the lower paying manufacturing jobs they replaced.

Trump and Kelly falsely would like you to believe that tariffs will bring these industries — those we were unable to compete in — back to the USA. Trump's comments on NAFTA indicate he has never read even a small part of NAFTA and lacks understanding of the benefits gained. Yet, Mr. Kelly defends Trump's tariff plan to gain favor from our president and not for the benefit of his constituents.

Job creation is important and as a country we need to foster growth in industries where we are best able to compete.

Many Trump supporters were convinced the president has the power to reduce the cost of consumer goods, bring industries back, and accomplish this with tariffs. Understanding that as a world economy we cannot escape global competition and national isolationist policies will not benefit Mr. Kelly's constituents with reduced costs of consumer goods.

Bill Lauff,

Connoquenessing