Bloomberg Talks Rep. French Hill Talks Tariff Vote
Feb 12, 2026
French Hill, U.S. Representative from Arkansas on financial and policy committees. He discusses the House vote on Canadian tariffs and strategic reasons behind party floor control. He urges prioritizing USMCA renewal and flags trade frictions like dairy, lumber, autos and tech. He talks about using tariffs selectively, balancing affordability, and bipartisan housing, banking and crypto reforms.
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Handle Trade Policy Holistically
- French Hill argues trade policy should be handled comprehensively, not via frequent floor votes that hand control to Democrats.
- He frames tariffs as one tool within a broader strategy to grow U.S. exports and influence, especially versus China.
Renew And Defend USMCA
- Urge the president to renew and consolidate USMCA during its five-year review to protect cross-border trade benefits.
- Protect USMCA-compliant goods from additional tariffs to maintain trade stability for exporters and consumers.
USMCA's Practical Impact
- Hill credits President Trump with improving NAFTA into USMCA and says the agreement has worked well for North American trade.
- He notes USMCA-compliant goods are not subject to additional tariffs, underscoring the deal's stabilizing role.