Donald Trump on Saturday said he didn’t warn automotive executives against raising prices as tariffs were enacted on foreign-made cars, telling NBC News that he “didn’t really bother him.”
The president’s comments came as the White House prepared to impose new tariffs on various consumer goods on April 2nd.
Among those expressing concerns about Trump’s commitment to tariffs on Sunday was Sen. Trump Paul, a Trump Republican.
“Since (World War II), international trade has enriched us incredible,” Paul told Cat’s Roundtable at WABC 770 AM in New York. “He says, ‘We were taken advantage of.’ But I really strongly oppose it because trade has made us so richer and made the world a better place.
“The more we trade…the less we fight.”
In an interview with NBC News, Trump said he believes that permanent tariffs on foreign-made cars will boost dominant US factories and will lead to increased sales of American-made cars. “If that’s the case, people are going to buy American-made cars,” Trump said.
Trump, who won his second White House term in the presidential election section by pledging to lower consumer prices in November, insisted that he would only consider negotiating tariffs “if people give us great value.”
Tariffs are part of Trump’s efforts to promote US production and reduce the country’s trade deficit.
Trump’s trade policy is a key focus of his presidency, with tensions escalating with his major trading partners.
On Sunday, a CBS News poll found 52% of Americans disapproved of how Trump is treating the economy. Approximately 55% of poll respondents said they focused on Trump’s tariffs.
