Charlene Barshefsky

Re “A Master Deal Maker Faces Test at Home,” July 26.

The weakness of U.S. foreign trade policy lies in Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky’s admission that “the foreigner already has what they want in [access to] our market.” It appears she considers it unthinkable to deny foreigners access to our market in exchange for access to their market.

Having been a Washington trade lawyer herself, Barshefsky has acquiesced to the overpowering influence of foreign and corporate lobbyists, who have coaxed the U.S. to accept trade deals that force American workers into the global economy without allowing them to enjoy its full benefits.

The U.S. will continue to struggle to gain wider access to foreign markets as long as the U.S. is unable to punish foreign nations where it hurts them most: their pocketbooks. If the U.S. refuses to retaliate with tariffs to punish protectionist nations, why should foreign nations open up their markets to U.S.-manufactured products?

DAVID FEDORKO

Santa Barbara