The former president added more specifics to his plans for boosting industries, along with the overall economy, during a campaign speech in Georgia.
Former President Donald Trump pledges to appoint a “manufacturing ambassador” to woo relocated companies back to American soil as part of his plan to revive U.S. industries, should he be re-elected in November.
“For years, we watched other countries steal our jobs,” he told a capacity crowd during a campaign speech in the key battleground state of Georgia on Sept. 24.
“Now we are going to be going after their jobs and bringing them back to America where they belong—and, frankly, where they want to be.”
The manufacturing ambassador would help maximize the results of his pro-business policies, Trump said, while contrasting his policies with those of his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
In Georgia, Trump was holding a 2 percent lead over Harris in the RealClearPolitics average of opinion polls on Sept. 24. Nationwide, Harris was leading by a similar margin. Both results are within the margin of error for most opinion polls, leaving the race a statistical tie.
‘Special Zones’ on Federal Land
Trump also disclosed a related tax initiative during his 80-minute speech.
“We will set up special zones of federal land with ultra-low taxes and regulations for American producers. These will be ideal spots for relocating entire industries that we’ve taken in from other countries,” he said.
In addition, he announced more help for Savannah, Georgia, an important seaside port city. Noting that his administration helped deepen Savannah’s port, Trump pledged a similar project if he were to win the presidency. He said he intends to enlist the Army Corps of Engineers to work with state transportation officials for this “major undertaking.”
Coupled with other policies, Savannah would see a big payoff, Trump pledged.
“With a world-class port and a world-class workforce, this city will soon become one of the premier export hubs anywhere on Earth, tripling and quadrupling traffic as your power will lead an American manufacturing boom,” he said.
Cutting the Corporate Tax Rate
In his speech, Trump also pledged to cut the corporate tax rate to 15 percent, a rate he called “the most competitive in the world.”
Harris has said she wants to hike the top corporate-tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent. Harris campaign spokesperson James Singer said last month that the move would be part of “a fiscally responsible way to put money back in the pockets of working people and ensure billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share.”
According to Trump, however, such a tax hike would cause businesses to leave America in “droves.” Policies that hurt energy production would also cause companies to “flee,” he said.
Trump said he believes that current environmental regulations are choking American businesses, preventing the nation from taking advantage of its natural resources and increasing American reliance on foreign materials and products. Instead, Trump said he would push policies that would help the nation “use our resources to our benefit, and it will be clean and environmentally perfect.”
“We’re sitting on trillions and trillions of dollars under our feet,” Trump said, referring to natural resources such as gas, oil, and rare-earth minerals.
Trump repeated his past pledges to add tariffs to Mexican-manufactured vehicles, stop selling U.S. steel to Japan, and take steps that would cut energy costs in half, aiding businesses as well as families.
“To the auto workers in Michigan, Georgia, and all other parts of our country, I am pinpointing you for greatness. Your industry has been decimated,” he said, citing company decisions as well as government policies.
Trump said he also would work toward paying off the national debt.