>> the house has gaveled out. today members are working on several pieces of legislation, including a measure to provide tax relief for residents of taiwan who also pay u.s. taxes lawmakers are also consideri a measure to increastransparency for the incomes of certain employees of the tennessee valley the nation's largest public power provider. and later this week, we expect a bill to come to the floor that would deport undocumented immigrants, convicted of certain sex offenses, and other violent crimes. you can watch live coverage of the house when members return right here on c-span.

>> democracy is always an unfinished creation. >> democracy is worth dying for. >> democracy belongs to us all. >> we are here in the sanctuary of democracy. >> great responsibilities fall once again to the great democracies. >> american democracy is bigger than any one person. >> freedom and democracy must be constantly guarded and protected. >> we are still at our core a democracy. >> this is also a massive victory for democracy and for freedom. continues. host: we are joined by representative adrian smith, republican of nebraska and he serves the third district. thanks for joining us. guest: great to be here. host: as chair of the subcommittee can we get your personal thoughts on how health -- on how tariffs should be applied in the united states?

guest: tariffs have been around a long time. we found out they can have a varied impact at various times, impact the economy as well. i cannot say i am a huge fan of tariffs but i will believe they need to be a tool in the toolbox as negotiations take place. it is very important that we are tough negotiators the level of playing field. host: when you say you're not a huge fan is that because of the impact on the economy? guest: that potential. representing a lot of agriculture. we do not like it when other countries put tariffs on our products. we are good exporters of ag products. other countries like our product and value. we do not like when they placed tariffs on us. we need to keep our options on the table. host: president-elect trump has

talked about ways to achieve tariffs. what you think of the approach he is taking? guest: it is important we drive a tough negotiation. i have shared this with a lot of folks that we need to level the playing field. make no mistake. what we have seen over the last four years, a lack of action. some of my democratic colleagues just yesterday in committee criticized tariffs now that trump is coming back in even though nothing was done about tariffs over the last four years. let me say even more importantly there was such a lack of action on trade across the board for the last four years. that in action is especially damaging because our competitors, our trade partners expect more from the united states of america than what they have seen the last four years. host: what would you like to see the ministration do to specific

countries when it comes to tariff policy? guest: take kenya. the previous trump administration teed up a trade agreement with kenya. kenya already enjoys the benefits of the africa growth and opportunity act. kenya enjoys those benefits, basically tariff relief. there other aspects of trade with kenya we can benefit from in terms of market access, agriculture being one. the trump administration teed up a trade agreement with kenya. the biden administration comes in and says we will talk about trade but not about tariffs. i cannot understand why that has been the case when kenya already benefits. let's talk about market access and how our exporters from the united states can get their products into a country such as kenya on a continent that is growing in population. that is what separates africa from summary other continents is

its growing population. host: i suppose as those countries go china would top that list. what is the benefit of applying tariffs or applying other tariffs? guest: the details can be very fine. trade is a lot of work. with growing technology, diversifying economies, that makes trade even more difficult. digital, for example. that is important because the u.s. leads the world in digital trade. other countries say that is a great source of revenue, especially if it comes from another country. that can be damaging in various ways, among them access to information and the flow of information. that is important as well. china as a competitor are engaging in places around the world where we are not.

that is a problem. i think we will stand to see a vigorous engagement in this incoming administration, especially in contrast to the outgoing ministration. host: we have heard the president talk about tariffs as a toll to reduce the amount of fentanyl that comes with the country and other things. is that the proper use of a tariff? guest: fentanyl a dangerous product and if we would become dependent on that revenue, i cannot see a tariff being a good application there on fentanyl. host: if we put these against the country the country can reduce the amount of fentanyl than the tariff achieves its purpose. is that a reasonable measure? guest: that can be the case. i think we need to be careful and not become over on tariff revenue that is probably not very stable. host: