Trump's Trade Policies: Acknowledgment of Sustainability Concerns

A recent interview with President Donald Trump has raised questions about the impact of his trade policies on American consumers. During the discussion on Fox Business Network's Mornings with Maria, Trump acknowledged the negative effects of his unilaterally imposed import tariffs on Chinese goods, yet he showed no intention of altering his approach in the ongoing trade conflict with Beijing. The conversation took a pivotal turn when host Maria Bartiromo inquired about the implications of Trump's proposed 100 percent additional tariff following China's announcement of new export controls on rare earth metals. Bartiromo pressed, “If you put a 100 percent tariff on top of what is in place, a 157 percent tariff on China, can that stand? What is that doing to the economy?" In response, Trump admitted that maintaining a 157 percent tariff on Chinese imports is “not sustainable,” while he recognized that this figure reflects the current status of the tariffs. He remarked, “It is probably, could stand — but they forced me to do that.” President Trump appears to have no desire to call off his planned 157 percent tax on Chinese imports despite admitting that it is ‘not sustainable.’ (Getty Images) During the interview, Trump also expressed admiration for Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling him an “amazing man” and a “great leader,” further noting that Xi's life story “could be good for a movie.” He emphasized the need for a fair trade deal with China, insisting that, “China ripped us off from day one.” Moreover, Trump placed some blame on former President Richard Nixon for the current trade challenges, claiming that Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972 laid the groundwork for a strong adversary. He reflected on that time, questioning, “Is that good or bad? You tell me,” and later stated that Nixon “unleashed a very strong adversary” through the easing of Sino-American tensions. The additional tariff is slated to be enacted on November 1, but U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer indicated that the timeline may change based on China's actions regarding their export controls on rare earth minerals, as reported by CNBC.