Connect with us

Economics

Trump reportedly considering important alteration to tariff plans

Published

on

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump looks on during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on December 22, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Rebecca Noble | Getty Images

President-elect Donald Trump is considering a plan that still would apply tariffs to all nations but narrow the focus to a select set of goods and services, according to a Washington Post report.

The new approach to tariffs likely wouldn’t be as powerful as Trump’s earlier ideas but still would cause major changes to global commerce, the paper said, citing people familiar with Trump’s thinking.

The report comes amid concerns that the incoming president’s insistence on imposing universal tariffs of 10% or 20% and specifically targeting China and Mexico would cause another spike in inflation.

During Trump’s first term, duties on a broad range of imports did little to raise prices broadly and in fact were kept in place when Joe Biden took over as president. However, economists worry that conditions are different now and aggressive tariffs would have a greater impact.

The Post report said it’s still not clear which sectors would be affected by the plans, though early discussions are looking at various industrial metals, medical supplies and energy.

The U.S. is running a $74 billion monthly trade deficit that exploded during the Covid pandemic.

Economics

Checks and Balance newsletter: Of God and MAGA

Published

on

Charlotte Howard, our executive editor and New York bureau chief, unpacks the blurring of church and state among Donald Trump’s circle

Continue Reading

Economics

The Hudson is now so clean that everyone can eat from it

Published

on

Battery sashimi, anyone?

Continue Reading

Economics

Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon is a lethality-maxxing wasps’ nest

Published

on

America’s armed forces are supremely capable and roiled by infighting

Continue Reading

Trending