Trump’s pick J.D. Vance protests US jobs lost in China ‘sweetheart trade deal’

“That same career politician named Joe Biden gave China a sweetheart trade deal that destroyed even more good American middle class manufacturing jobs,” he continued.

Describing Ohio as a place that had been “forgotten by America’s ruling class in Washington,” Vance blamed establishment politicians for letting unemployment and drugs take hold there, and beyond.

“Our country was flooded with cheap Chinese goods, with cheap foreign labour and, in the decades to come, deadly Chinese fentanyl,” he said.

Washington has frequently accused Beijing of supporting the production of precursor chemicals for fentanyl, though the two countries have improved their counter-narcotics cooperation in recent months.

Vance pledged on Wednesday to spur domestic manufacturing by building more factories.

“We’re done sacrificing supply chains to unlimited global trade,” he said, adding that it was time to “stop the Chinese Communist Party from building their middle class on the backs of American citizens”.

Vance was introduced to the stage by his wife Usha Vance, who also spoke to his working class roots: “It’s hard to imagine a more powerful example of the American dream,” she said.

The role that American vice-presidents play in setting policy varies by administration and it is not clear what Vance would do in a second Trump administration. The attempted assassination of the former president on Saturday, however, has put into stark relief the importance of the vice-presidential role.

On stage Vance spoke about the former president’s bravery. “Even in his most perilous moment we were on his mind,” referring to Trump showing a fist pump after he was shot.

The 39-year-old is expected to largely see eye to eye with Trump on foreign policy issues, including related to Taiwan and tariffs on mainland China.

If the Republican ticket wins in November, Vance would have the least government experience of anyone a heartbeat away from the presidency in the modern era.

His memoir of growing up in a broken family in the rust belt, Hillbilly Elegy, was a bestseller in 2016 and led to a fast-rising career as a political commentator. He opposed Trump in 2016, for example, though he has since become a strong supporter.

In 2022, Vance defeated the Democratic candidate Tim Ryan for the Ohio Senate seat, and took office in January 2023.

Regarding Taiwan, Vance said last year the US needed to reduce its reliance on Taiwan-made semiconductors yet develop more weapons domestically to assist the island in case of a conflict with Beijing.

Trump has been less clear about coming to Taiwan’s aid in a conflict, saying that “Taiwan should pay us for defence” when directly asked by Bloomberg in June.

Beijing regards Taiwan as part of China to be eventually reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. Most nations do not recognise Taiwan, a self-ruled island, as an independent state, including the US, although it is opposed to any forcible change to the status quo and is bound by law to provide arms to Taiwan for its defence.

A proponent of “America First”, Vance told Fox News on Monday that his foreign policy would be “the Trump doctrine”, which he summarised as “you don’t commit America’s troops unless you really have to, but when you do you punch and you punch hard”.

As a senator, Vance has voted against increased aid to Ukraine, and has affirmed Trump’s claim that he could bring about a quick end to the war if he is elected. Like Trump, Vance has said Nato members need to take a more active role in their own defence.

The Republican Party platform, formally adopted on Monday on the first day of the convention, includes a commitment to “secure strategic independence from China”, in line with Vance’s pledges on Wednesday night.

“Republicans will revoke China’s most-favoured-nation status, phase out imports of essential goods and stop China from buying American real estate and industries,” the document states.

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BIDEN OR TRUMP: WHOEVER WINS, WE LOSE

BIDEN OR TRUMP: WHOEVER WINS, WE LOSE

Beijing’s preferential trade status currently allows China a baseline of non-discriminatory treatment and lower tariffs for many goods.

Vance pledged to never forget his roots. “I promise you this: I will be a vice-president who never forgets where he came from.”

No debate has yet been arranged between Vance and his presumed Democratic opponent, Vice-President Kamala Harris.