PA-Sen: Democrat Bob Casey pretty much agrees with Trump on tariffs, trade with China

When asked how President Donald Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs will affect Pennsylvania, the state's Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey told a Pittsburgh radio station this week that something needs to be done to create a "level playing field" for related businesses in the Keystone State.

"For too long, I just don't think we've used these trade remedies to ... enforce trade laws and to hold other countries accountable and get at, frankly, the root of this problem, which for a long time in the context of steel, has been overcapacity of steel ... other countries flooding the market, putting our steelmakers at a disadvantage," Casey told WESA-FM. "We want to get to a point where our steelmakers can compete on a level playing field and be able to therefore retain the jobs that are in that industry — and a lot of that's here in Pennsylvania."

And in terms of trade with China, Casey sounded as eager as Trump to hold that nation accountable for its shady dealings.

"Our state has been targeted by the Chinese government," the senator added. "The Chinese army hacked into U.S. Steel" and "allowed knock-off products" from in-state companies such as Zippo lighters and Martin guitars "to be sold in China."

Casey added that "China has gotten away with so much for so long ... cheating on trade deals, cheating on currency, forcing our companies to give up so much just to do business in China. I think we just need a much tougher policy with them."

TheBlaze on Friday didn't immediately hear back from the campaign of U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pennsylvania) — Casey's likely challenger for the Senate seat in November — in regard to the senator's comments.