Chinese flag (left) (Photo by Lucas Schifres-Getty Images) and nationally syndicated radio talk show host, TV host, author and American lawyer Mark Levin (right) (Screenshot)

Mark Levin noted that free trade with China is ultimately destructive to American society on his nationally syndicated radio talk show “The Mark Levin Show” on Monday.

“So, free trade with China is ultimately destructive to this society and the future of a peaceful society, in my view,” stated Mark Levin. “We have to acknowledge what China is and what China’s doing – same with Iran. These are hostile countries.”

Mark Levin’s comments came as reports have warned of a trade war, tariffs with China, Rep. Steve Scalise suggesting that, according to CNSNews.com, “we’ve always been in a trade war with China.” Patrick Buchanan, in his most recent column on CNSNews.com said the following about tariffs, “A tariff is a tax, but its purpose is not just to raise revenue but to make a nation economically independent of others, and to bring its citizens to rely upon each other rather than foreign entities,” which is “why Beijing, which runs $350 billion to $400 billion in annual trade surpluses at our expense is howling loudest.”

Below is a transcript, in relevant part, of Mark Levin’s remarks from his show on Monday:

“Tariffs and trade – tariffs and trade. See, I don’t buy the argument that China takes $500 billion out of the United States every year. Now, stick with me. You’re going to hear the whole argument because I favored heavy tariffs against China, but I’ll get into that in a minute. “They take $500 billion out of the country and do what with it? Make stuff. What kind of stuff? All kinds of stuff – stuff that you want – or they wouldn’t be able to quote, unquote take $500 billion out of the country now would they? “They buy stuff too. ‘But we have an imbalance of trade, an imbalance of trade.’ Most rich nations have an imbalance of trade. You know why? Because most Americans want stuff, and they want stuff as cheap as they can get it. That’s why we have an imbalance of trade. It’s your fault. It’s the consumers fault. It’s the fault of the American people. It’s also the fault of government in several respects. … “But anyway, that’s not why I favor tariffs against China or Iran or North Korea or Cuba. I don’t believe in free trade, balance or imbalance, with countries that have as their purpose to destroy the United States. I don’t believe in that. I don’t believe we should treat China as Canada. That’s why I don’t support heavy duty tariffs on our allies – whatever the hell they’re doing. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter because tariffs are a tax on you, not a tax on Canada. That said, it makes it more difficult for China to get our products, which China want in order to make stuff for you.