By Chinta Strausberg
U.S. Senatorial candidate Willie Wilson slammed President Donald Trump for engaging in a tariff war with China, saying he’s hurting U.S. companies and their consumers who will ultimately have to pay at least $1,000 more a year for Chinese-made goods.
Wilson made his comments last Sunday on WVON’s “Bob Shaw” show.
Effective September 1, 2019, consumers will be paying 15 percent more for Chinese-made items such as TVs, electronics, shoes, clothing, diapers, pens, pencils, golf clubs, fishing line, and 114 other items.
Having run for mayor and U.S. president, Wilson, who officially announced his run for the U.S. Senate Tuesday, September 3, is outraged that Trump has initiated this tariff war.
Experts say the war will cost more than $100 billion of approximately $300 billion in new U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, and that’s only the beginning.
Wilson said the remainder tariffs will hit consumers in December on about $550 billion worth of total goods companies will have to fork over and reportedly pass on to the consumers.
Trump ignored more than 100 trade groups that asked him not to initiate this tariff war. Trump’s actions have already prompted a number of U.S. companies to begin preparing for the effects of paying higher tariffs, including not building new factories or making further investments in their companies, according to several published reports.
Wilson, who has factories and employees in China and in the U.S, said, “I feel it is a doggone shame. I feel it is wrong. Households will have to pay at least $1,000 more a year. I am not supporting Trump. There are better ways of doing things. It is totally unfair.”
Wilson owns the Omar Medical Supplies Company, considered a success model of how an African American businessman in the United States established a multi-million business venture with China. Sources say he has worked with China for many years.
Of the senatorial race, Wilson said, “I am not running as part of the Democratic machine. I am running as an independent. I will have to gather 25,000 signatures which means I’ll turn in more than 100,000 signatures.”
Wilson, who is well connected to churches in the Chicagoland area and throughout the state, said if he had run as a Democrat, he would only have to turn in 5,000 signatures. However, Wilson said getting 100,000 signatures is not a concern to him. Wilson’s petition drive begins in June. “Please sign my petitions,” he said.
When asked why he is running for U.S. Senate, Wilson accused Durbin of ignoring the Black community on issues like jobs and reparations. Alderman Roderick Sawyer (6th) will introduce his reparations bill on September 18 in the City Council.
According to Wilson, he is getting support from several Hispanic aldermen. “If they can support Sanctuary City, why can’t they support reparations,” asked Wilson who needs 26 votes to pass his bill.
What may have triggered Wilson’s run for the U.S. Senate is Durbin’s not returning his phone call—an act Wilson called “disrespectful,” and “a damn shame. I am deserving a call back instead of being treated like dirt,” Wilson said.
This reporter’s efforts to reach Senator Durbin for comment were unsuccessful.
Asked if he would pay for his campaign, as he did with the mayoral and presidential campaigns, Wilson said people can donate through his website, www.Williewilson2020.com.
“If someone wants to donate to my campaign, fine, but I am not for sale.”
