As the US President-elect Donald Trump’s Inauguration approaches, his aides are reportedly working on implementing his campaign promise of imposing universal tariffs on imports from overseas. During his Presidential campaign, Trump had proposed imposing tariffs as high as 10 or 20 per cent on all imports to the United States and a 60 per cent levy on goods from China.
However, Trump’s aides are now considering making adjustments to the original plan to accommodate political and economic realities, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The Trump team is exploring the possibility of enacting tariffs on specific industries either before or alongside a broader tariff program to address trade imbalances and boost US manufacturing.
While discussions are ongoing and no final decisions have been made, Trump’s team is reportedly considering applying tariffs to every country but focusing only on critical imports, as reported by The Washington Post.
If implemented, Trump’s tariff plan could have significant implications for global trade, potentially leading to retaliatory measures from other countries and driving up prices for consumers and businesses.
Despite facing resistance within his own camp, Trump’s economic advisers believe that imposing tariffs is necessary to bring back manufacturing jobs to the US economy. They are exploring options to move forward with a plan that resembles Trump’s original proposal while minimizing the impact on the stock market and consumer prices.
Overall, the debate over tariffs within Trump’s team reflects differing opinions on the effectiveness and implications of such a policy. While some, like incoming Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, support using tariffs as a negotiating tool, others, like Treasury secretary Scott Bessent, are not fully convinced of the benefits of universal tariffs on all goods.
As the discussions continue, it remains to be seen how Trump’s tariff plans will evolve and what impact they will have on the global economy.
