Quotes
President Trump's Inauguration Day policy announcements on tariffs were more benign than expected,
said Alec Phillips, chief U.S. political economist at Goldman Sachs, in a note to clients
Pursuing protectionism is just like locking one's self in a dark room. Wind and rain might be kept outside but so are light and air."
Ding referenced Chinese president Xi Jinping's 2017 speech
That is a war that’s dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president,
Trump said during a September debate with Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia
I think we’ll do it February 1st.”
When asked when the tariffs would be imposed, Trump said
Well, there’s only half a day. I have another half a day left. We’ll see. We want to get it done.”
When President Trump was asked in the Oval Office on Monday about his promise to end the war on day one, Trump saidI'll quote my predecessor Richard [Galanti]. He'd say when it rains, it rains on everybody. And I think for us, we faced tariffs in the past, and we believe that our merchants and buyers are equipped, as anybody is, to sort of work through and navigate and manage that situation."
As Costco CFO Gary Millerchip put it on the company's December earnings callWe view Trump's decision against announcing new tariffs on his first day in office as evidence of the ongoing internal debate over how best to implement the duties, not as a sign of plans to significantly scale back or withdraw his campaign pledges to impose new duties on foreign goods,
Beacon Policy Advisors wrote in a research noteRegarding the decrees that President Donald Trump signed yesterday, I would like to say the following: The people of Mexico can be sure that we will always defend our sovereignty and our independence,
she said in remarks on Tuesday
One tariff would be followed by another in response, and so on until we put at risk common businesses,
Sheinbaum said in November, noting_(cropped).jpg)
We will go to the extent of cutting off their energy — going down to Michigan, going down to New York State and over to Wisconsin.”
Trudeau flew down to Mar-a-Lago to dine with Trump, while Premier Doug Ford of Ontario warned
Our country is absolutely ready to respond to any one of these scenarios,
Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc said on MondayWe will also remain steady and strong in advocating for this incredibly successful trading relationship,
Trudeau saidIf a percentage of what the United States spends on war were dedicated to peace and development, that would address the underlying causes of migration,
she said at the timeIt’s always important to have a cool head,
she added, suggesting Mexico will respond “step by step” to U.S. tariffsI guarantee you we’re going to find [a way out],
Ebrard said
We’re subsidizing Canada to the tune of over $100 billion a year. We’re subsidizing Mexico for almost $300 billion,
he said in December, significantly exaggerating the United States’ trade deficits with both countriesI’ll … seek strong new protections against transshipment, so that China and other countries cannot smuggle their products and auto parts into the United States tax free through Mexico to the detriment of our workers and our supply chains,
he said in OctoberWe shouldn’t be — why are we subsidizing these countries? If we’re going to subsidize them, let them become a state. We’re subsidizing Mexico and we’re subsidizing Canada and we’re subsidizing many countries all over the world,
Trump saidThe United States Trade Representative shall review the Economic and Trade Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People’s Republic of China to determine whether the PRC is acting in accordance with this agreement, and shall recommend appropriate actions to be taken based upon the findings of this review, up to and including the imposition of tariffs or other measures as needed,
Trump said in the order, taking no immediate action but leaving the door open for it in the future
Specifically, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall assess and make recommendations regarding how to maintain, obtain, and enhance our Nation’s technological edge and how to identify and eliminate loopholes in existing export controls — especially those that enable the transfer of strategic goods, software, services, and technology to countries to strategic rivals and their proxies…They shall assess and make recommendations regarding export control enforcement policies and practices, and enforcement mechanisms to incentivise compliance by foreign countries, including appropriate trade and national security measures,
the order says