BONUS POD: Tariff Tango-China & Japan arrive in DC plus Guantanamo Bay Expansion

Summary

Verdict with Ted Cruz: BONUS POD – Tariff Tango-China & Japan Arrive in DC Plus Guantanamo Bay Expansion

Hosted by: Ben Ferguson and Senator Ted Cruz
Release Date: April 17, 2025

In this bonus episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz," hosted by Premiere Networks, Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson delve into three pivotal topics shaping the current political and economic landscape: the evolving trade dynamics between the U.S., Japan, and China, and the Trump administration's controversial expansion of detention policies at Guantanamo Bay. This comprehensive summary captures the essence of their discussions, highlighting key points, insightful analyses, and notable quotes with timestamps for reference.

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1. Trump Administration's Trade Negotiations with Japan

Timestamp: [02:55] – Introduction of the Topic

Ben Ferguson opens the discussion by highlighting the Trump administration's proactive approach in handling international trade negotiations. The primary focus is on the recent trade talks between President Donald Trump and Japanese officials aimed at establishing more equitable trade agreements.

Key Points:

• Meeting with Japanese Delegation: President Trump met with Japanese officials at the White House to negotiate trade terms. The discussions centered around the cost of military support and ensuring trade fairness between the two nations.

  • Notable Quote:
    "A great honor to have met with the Japanese delegation on trade. Big progress."
    (Timestamp: [03:07])

• Imposition of Tariffs: In a strategic move, President Trump announced a 10% baseline tariff on nearly every country, with significantly higher reciprocal tariffs imposed on key trading partners, including Japan, Vietnam, the European Union, and notably, China at 145%.

  • Rationale: The tariffs are intended to counteract what the administration perceives as unfair trade practices and to protect American industries from foreign competition.

  • Suspension of Higher Tariffs: A 90-day pause was placed on higher tariffs for all countries except China, reflecting a targeted approach to address specific trade imbalances.

• First Mover Advantage: Treasury Secretary Scott Besant emphasized the advantage of being proactive in negotiations, as over 75 countries have expressed interest in direct talks with the U.S., aiming to secure favorable trade deals swiftly.

  • Notable Quote:
    "More than 75 countries now have requested direct talks. Those that sit down with us quickly are getting the best deals."
    (Timestamp: [06:45])

• Japan's Stance: Japanese Prime Minister indicated a willingness to negotiate without making significant concessions, stating, "I would not impose countermeasures on U.S. tariffs," suggesting a cooperative yet firm positioning.

Insights:

The discussions signify the Trump administration's intent to recalibrate international trade relationships, ensuring that agreements are mutually beneficial and address long-standing grievances related to trade imbalances and unfair practices.

---

2. Escalation and Potential Shift in Trade Relations with China

Timestamp: [07:20] – Introduction to China's Trade Situation

The conversation shifts to the escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China, focusing on the imposition of a staggering 245% tariff on Chinese imports and the subsequent diplomatic maneuvers.

Key Points:

• 245% Tariff on China: The U.S. has significantly raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 245%, a move justified by the administration as necessary to counteract China's long-standing trade advantages and unfair practices.

  • Rationale: The tariffs aim to address the unfair trade balances and eliminate non-monetary barriers that have disadvantaged American businesses and workers.

  • Notable Quote:
    "Nobody is getting off the hook for the unfair trade balances and non-monetary tariff barriers that other countries have used against us, especially not China."
    (Timestamp: [09:15])

• Impact on Global Markets: The aggressive tariff strategy has disrupted global supply chains, complicating operations for American businesses reliant on Chinese imports and exerting pressure on Chinese exporters who face a shrinking market in the U.S.

• China's Response and Diplomatic Shifts:

  • Appointment of Li Changong: China appointed Li Changong as its new trade negotiator, signaling a potential softening in their negotiation strategy. Li's extensive background, including his tenure as China's ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and his role in negotiating China's WTO ascension, suggests a more open and constructive approach to discussions.

    • Notable Quote:
      "There might be another style of negotiations from China."
      (Timestamp: [10:30])

  • Chinese Foreign Ministry Statement: A spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry remarked, "There is no winner in tariff wars and trade wars," indicating a possible willingness to engage in dialogue to resolve ongoing disputes.

  • Shift in Rhetoric: This marks a significant departure from previous aggressive stances, with President Trump reaffirming his commitment to securing fair deals for the American people while emphasizing national security concerns related to supply chains, particularly in semiconductors and electronics.

    • Notable Quote:
      "We will not be held hostage by other countries, especially hostile trading nations like China."
      (Timestamp: [11:05])

Insights:

The evolving dynamics suggest a potential thaw in U.S.-China trade relations, driven by both economic pressures and a strategic reevaluation of negotiation tactics. The appointment of a seasoned trade negotiator by China and their public statements may pave the way for renewed discussions aimed at achieving a more balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement.

---

3. Expansion of Detention Policies at Guantanamo Bay

Timestamp: [12:13] – Introduction to Guantanamo Bay Expansion

The final segment addresses a highly contentious issue: the Trump administration's decision to expand the criteria for detaining migrants at Guantanamo Bay, extending beyond those deemed the worst offenders.

Key Points:

• New Detention Memo: A recently uncovered memo reveals that the administration is broadening its authority to detain migrants based on their connections to transnational criminal organizations or involvement in criminal drug activities.

  • Criteria Expansion: Previously, detentions were limited to severe offenders. The new guidelines allow for detentions of individuals with any form of interaction with organized crime, including indirect associations such as paying criminal groups for smuggling services.

    • Notable Quote:
      "Detaining migrants with final deportation orders who have interacted in any way with organized crime."
      (Timestamp: [12:20])

• Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense Roles: The memo was signed by top officials from both departments, outlining operational protocols for managing detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Currently, 42 individuals are detained under the existing framework.

  • Defense Department Confirmation: The Department of Defense has affirmed the memo, emphasizing that operations at Guantanamo will continue unchanged in response to the new guidelines.

• Expert Commentary: Teresa Cardinal Brown, a former U.S. Immigration official, commented on the pervasive influence of crime syndicates in migrant communities, particularly highlighting the territorial control exerted by Mexican cartels.

  • Notable Quote:
    "Many illegals could have some form of interaction with a crime syndicate due to the territorial control established by the cartels in Mexico."
    (Timestamp: [13:05])

• Administration's Defense: Officials argue that the expansion is crucial for national security, aiming to dismantle criminal networks that exploit migrant pathways for illicit activities.

  • Notable Quote:
    "Operations at Guantanamo for detaining migrants will proceed without changes."
    (Timestamp: [13:20])

Insights:

This policy shift represents a significant tightening of immigration enforcement measures, blurring the lines between immigration control and criminal prosecution. The broad criteria for detention raise concerns about civil liberties and the potential for overreach, sparking debates on the balance between national security and individual rights.

---

Conclusion

In this insightful bonus episode, Ben Ferguson and Senator Ted Cruz provide an in-depth analysis of critical issues impacting the United States. From the strategic maneuvers in international trade negotiations with Japan and the evolving stance with China, to the controversial expansion of detention policies at Guantanamo Bay, the hosts offer a comprehensive overview of policies that hold significant implications for American economic interests and national security.

Notable Takeaways:

• Trade Negotiations: The Trump administration is aggressively pursuing fair trade deals, leveraging tariffs as a bargaining chip while engaging multiple countries to secure favorable terms swiftly.

• U.S.-China Relations: A potential shift towards more constructive negotiations may emerge, influenced by China's appointment of a seasoned trade negotiator and their public statements indicating a willingness to resolve trade disputes.

• Immigration Enforcement: The expansion of detention criteria at Guantanamo Bay underscores a stringent approach to immigration, intertwining it with efforts to combat organized crime, though not without raising ethical and legal considerations.

For listeners seeking a nuanced understanding of these developments, this episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz" serves as a valuable resource, providing clarity on complex issues that shape the nation's trajectory.

---

References:

• Chumba Casino Advertisements: Various promotional segments interspersed throughout the transcript have been omitted for brevity and relevance.
• Timestamp Notations: All timestamps correspond to the original podcast transcript, ensuring accurate context for quoted statements.

Transcript

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I work for the greatest president of my lifetime, Donald Trump. He secured that border in five weeks. As we're talking right now, Lawrence, we have the most secure border in my lifetime right now because of President Trump's actions. We're coming to sanctuary cities. We're going to put all hands on deck. Sanctuary cities are not going to get away with illegality that's killing Americans at record numbers.

You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.

Good Thursday morning. Welcome. It is the 47 Morning Update, Ben Ferguson with you. And here are the three big stories that you need to know about. First up, Donald Trump touting major progress after trade talks with Japanese officials. The moral of the story, if you show up and you're willing to work with America, we're willing to work with you. I'll give you all those details in a moment. And comparing that story to our second one, China is now signaling a readiness for talks if the US Shows respect amid the numbers game as some tariffs have gone to 240%. And finally, in a big story, a memo now is revealing US Plans to send migrants who are linked to organized crime to Guantanamo bay. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now.

Story number one, there is a major.

Theme coming out of the White House with consistency and that is if you work with the Trump administration on tariffs as a foreign nation, you're going to get a very good deal. Well, the Trump administration, we're now being told, is working with dozens of countries in direct negotiations on new trade deals. There's one big success story that's coming out of the White House. President Trump, we are now being told, met with Japanese officials at the White House yesterday to discuss trade negotiations and his quick reaction on social media afterwards suggested a very positive result. Quote, a great honor to have met with the Japanese delegation on trade. Big progress. He was also joined by the Treasury Secretary, Scott Besant and the Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick. The talks were scheduled after Trump announced he would impose tariffs on the island nation. Now, Trump previously confirmed that he would attend the meetings and that discussion topics would include the cost of military support and also, quote, trade fairness. The United States and Japan have had a decades long military alliance formed in the aftermath of World War II. Thousands of American troops are also stationed on Japanese soil, a majority of them on a military base in Okinawa. Up Trump also said last night, quote, hopefully something can be worked out which is great for Japan and the U. S. Now this month Trump announced a 10 baseline tariff on nearly every country in the world, but added higher reciprocal tariffs on a number of significant trading partners. This included Japan, Vietnam, the European Union, China and others. Later, he announced a 90 day pause on the higher tariffs for every country except China, which was hit with a total rate of 145% and some categories higher than that overall. Now, the higher tariffs on imports from China were needed. Trump said in his announcement, suspending the other duties because the Chinese regime has taken advantage of the United States for decades on trade. The Chinese regime has responded by imposing higher tariffs on US Products, which we'll get to more on that in just a moment in story two. But the big news here is this. Even Bessant had said that there is, quote, a first mover advantage given that Washington has stated that more than 75 countries now have requested direct talks. Japanese prime minister said on April 14 that his country, quote, won't rush to reach a deal and does not plan to make, quote, big concessions, although he said he would not impose countermeasures on U.S. tariffs. Well, some of this may be posturing because what we're seeing coming out of the White House is significant, that this country, America and Japan are clearly looking to get a deal done soon. We also are being told that about 15 countries so far have submitted proposals on trade. That is coming from the press secretary, Caroline Levitt. She also noted that dozens more countries have reached out to the White House and are looking to sit down as soon as possible. Her exact timeline, she said, is as quickly as we can put people at the table. And the proposals that we're getting are actively being considered. As we've said consistently, there are more than 75 countries that have reached out. And those that reached out first with the best deals are those that are sitting down with us quickly.

Now, story number two.

You may have seen the headline and the headline is one that was shocking to the world and it was done on purpose by the Trump administration. When it comes to China, China is now facing up to a 245% Trump tariff. Now, there's a lot that has happened in the last 24 hours. Not only did the White House say China's facing this 245% tariff on imports, the U.S. but they said it was because of a result of its retaliatory actions from China against us. Now, this is going back and forth at a rapid pace. Why does this matter? Because the trade war is obviously rattling global markets. Cutting off Chinese imports is complicating American supply chain and it is also hurting Chinese exporters all but losing the U. S Market is, quote, a severe blow and now they are putting pressure on their own government to get a deal done. So here's what we know now. There has been movement from China quietly. China has now appointed a new trade negotiator. China appointed a man by the name of Li Changong as its new trade negotiator on Wednesday in the midst of its tariff fight with the U. S. Now this is a significant move that signals a change in the style of their negotiations or lack thereof from Beijing. Now let me tell you more about Lee that you will hear nowhere else. Prior to this new appointment, Lee spent about four and a half years as China's ambassador to the World Trade Organization, that is the body that governs global commerce and to which Beijing has appealed in its tariff dispute with the U. S. Lee has also had permanent representative status to the Chinese delegation to the U. N. Office in Geneva as well as other international organizations in Switzerland. We also know that Lee participated in negotiating China's ascension to the WTO, known as the World Trade Organization more than 20 years ago. This means there is real movement now and movement as it was described by one as saying. This quote, there might be another style of negotiations from China. Lee is an open minded person and supports free trade. That is what the dean of the China Institute for WTO Studies at the University of International Business and Economics said in a statement to the press. So what are people saying about this in China? Well, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said there is no winner in tariff wars and trade wars, the first time signaling that they may be willing to do a deal. And China, he went on to say, does not want to fight. Let me say that again. China does not want to fight, but it is by no means afraid to fight again, a major change in the rhetoric coming out of Beijing. President Trump also wrote on True Social Nobody is getting off the hook for the unfair trade balances and non monetary tariff barriers that other countries have used against us, especially not China which by far treats us the worst. That's what Trump said on Truth social on the 13th. He said we are taking a look at semiconductors and the whole electronic supply chain in the upcoming national security tariff investigations. What has been exposed is that we need to make products in the US and that we will not be held hostage by other countries, especially hostile trading nations like China which will do everything within its power to disrespect the American people. Which brings us now to the newest headline. As I said a moment ago. Things are moving rapidly and this is good news for Americans as well. The newest headline reads like this. China is now signaling a, quote, readiness to talk if U. S shows respect amid the numbers game. Again, this is very different than what they were saying just 24 hours ago. China is now expressing openness into trade talks with the US under certain conditions. Even after the White House clarified that China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the U.S. this goes back to what Donald Trump said all along. I'm not flinching on countries that are taking advantage of the American workers, the American people. He also said it was going to be a national security issue, which you just heard them mentioned yet again. And the President said, I'm more than willing to sit down to get a fair deal for the American people. And with China appointing Lee as its new trade negotiator, it signals a major potential shift in the approach to trade discussions. And that is not only good for Americans, but also for the entire world.

And here is story number three.

It is a major story that no one seems to be covering. And our good friends over at the national polls are the first to expose this big news. A new memo shows the Trump administration's wide reaching authority to detain migrants at Guantanamo Bay is going to be expanding beyond only the worst offenders, quote, unquote. This development is part of Trump's broader policy to crack down on illegal immigration. Now, what I'm about to tell you, I hope you'll share with everyone you know and I hope you will share this podcast on social media. Also make sure you hit that subscribe or auto download button because these are the stories you're not going to get anywhere else. Now this agreement was signed in early March by top officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. It sets criteria for detaining migrants based not on criminal history, but rather a nexus to transnational criminal organizations or criminal drug activity. Officials have defined this connection broadly, which could include paying a criminal group for smuggling services into the United States of America. That would be a game changer. Now the guidelines also allow for detaining migrants with final deportation orders who have interacted in any way with organized crime, including direct or indirect interactions. The Department of Defense confirmed the memo. The DoD has highlighted its role in clarifying operational roles at Guantanamo Bay between the Department of Homeland security and the DoD. Teresa Cardinal Brown, a former U. S. Immigration official, stated that many illegals could have some form of interaction with a crime syndicate. This is due to the territorial control established by the cartels in Mexico. Now, the Trump administration officials are defending the strategy as vital to, quote, national security. The White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said operations at Guantanamo for detaining migrants will proceed without changes. Currently, 42 individuals are detained at the base. This story we expect to change, and I promise you we will cover it here for you every step of the way.

Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now and for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow.

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[Clay Travis]

Hey Clay, if there was a summer camp for critical thinking, we'd be the chief counselors.

[Unknown]

Those jelly heads in June would be intellectual warriors by August.

[Clay Travis]

Be a lot of fun too. Some Bill and Ted's excellent adventure references.

[Unknown]

Just thrown in this podcast like a daily dose of that, minus the campfires, archery and pranking the girls.

[Clay Travis]

The bona fide boot camp for critical thinking. You can get in on it for free at the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. Just search our names. Clay and Buck Listen and subscribe.