Let’s shift to the economy, sir. You have floated a 10% tariff on all imports, and a more than 60% tariff on Chinese imports. Can I just ask you now: Is that your plan?
Trump: It may be more than that. It may be a derivative of that. A derivative of that. But it will be somebody—look when they come in and they steal our jobs, and they steal our wealth, they steal our country.
When you say more than that, though: You mean maybe more than 10% on all imports?
Trump: More than 10%, yeah. I call it a ring around the country. We have a ring around the country. A reciprocal tax also, in addition to what we said. And if we do that, the numbers are staggering. I don't believe it will have much of an effect because they're making so much money off of us. I also don't believe that the costs will go up that much. And a lot of people say, “Oh, that's gonna be a tax on us.” I don't believe that. I think it's a tax on the country that's doing it. And I know. Look, I took in billions of dollars from China. Nobody else ever did anything on China. I also let people know what the threat of China was. China was going along making $500 to $600 billion a year and nobody was ever even mentioning it until I came along. What's happening in Detroit is very sad because electric cars with this EV mandate, which is ridiculous, because they don't go far. They cost too much and they're going to be made in China. They're all going to be made in China.
Mr. President, most economists—and I know not all, there isn't unanimity on this—but most economists say that tariffs increase prices.
Trump: Yeah.
@T4riffGarlicRepublican3wks3W
Trump being against trade is way better than Joe Biden ruining America by voting for every single awful trade deal. Joe Biden caused the rust belt and trade is climate change.
@SquirrelAmeliaDemocrat3wks3W
Trump's advisers keep downplaying the extent of his tariff proposals -- saying this 10% idea is just one more extreme idea among many -- but then Trump himself keeps suggesting he would actually like to be *more* aggressive
@MinorityWhipRonPatriot3wks3W
If China’s military budget is what it is.. pre-war tarrifs are the last thing we should be concerning ourselves with.
It could actually be a great tool to buy us valuable time while both adversaries still need eachother. But.. we shouldn’t be naive.
@ExcitedBitternForward3wks3W
Increased prices are not necessarily inflation. In fact, tariffs decrease demand, which should improve balance of payments and strengthen the dollar, which would make other things like critical commodities cheaper.
This would be inflationary. Argue it’s worth it. But don’t argue reality. If you want to pay more for everything, then do this.
@DirectEmmaRepublican3wks3W
And no, he did not do this is first term.
@LolliesClairePatriot3wks3W
There's a logic argument to do this for China but not the rest of the world.
At this point, most Americans can’t afford to fight that battle with China right now. Not after the 20% inflation in prices of the last three years.
Any isolation of China needs to be planned for with manufacturing deals elsewhere already in place.
@LolliesClairePatriot3wks3W
I agree, but this is a campaign proposal, actual implementation would involve a more strategic approach. I mean look at what Biden is proposing and he has actual power, taxing unrealized capital gains would kill investment in the USA and put us into a recession immediately.
Raise your hand if you like higher prices for goods. American consumers pay more due to Trump/Biden tariffs. It is a TAX and was/is part of what brought us inflation. Stop the heavy handed government intervention/cronyism and allow the market to work.
@PorpoiseAvaDemocrat3wks3W
Economists forecast a 10% tariff would increase prices by $1500 annually on most American families.
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