“TUNA TARIFF PROTECTION PLEDGE IN MESSAGE – (Washington D.C.) Feb. 2nd – New U.S. President EISENHOWER‘s ~STATE OF THE UNION~ message was interpreted here today as a pledge to the Southern California fishing industry that it will be protected from increasing tuna imports, provided it can show that foreign competition is threatening financial ruin for the domestic enterprise. The President recommended to Congress that it ‘take the reciprocal trade agreements act under immediate study and extend it by appropriate legislation. ‘This objective,’ he emphasized, ‘must not ignore legitimate safeguarding of domestic industries, agriculture and labor standards…’
Mr. Charles R. Carry, Manager of the National Canners Association Fisheries division, said that if ‘the President sticks to his theory of safe-guarding domestic industries from growing foreign competition, that’s all the tuna industry asks.’
The President’s remarks, he commented, seemed to make it clear that the new administration is pledged to protect a domestic industry, either through increased tariffs or an import quota, if it can prove sufficient financial hardship created by foreign competition. Rep. Bob Wilson (R), of San Diego, saw in the President’s foreign trade remarks a ‘determination that he wants domestic industries protected from cheap-labor foreign competition.’
The Congressman said Mr. Eisenhower’s message committed his administration to protect not only the tuna industry, but also lemon and rabbit fur growers as well. In San Diego County, he recalled, growing imports have threatened the latter two industries as well as tuna fishermen and canners.”
(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Tuesday, February 3, 1953 – Pg. 1)