President Trump on Tuesday praised his decision to impose tariffs on imports as a way of fighting back against unfair trade practices around the world, despite fears from many U.S. companies that the tariffs and overseas retaliation will hurt their prospects for growth.
“Tariffs are the greatest,” Trump declared Tuesday.
“Either a country which has treated the United States unfairly on Trade negotiates a fair deal, or it gets hit with Tariffs. It’s as simple as that – and everybody’s talking! Remember, we are the ‘piggy bank’ that’s being robbed. All will be Great!” he tweeted.
[Opinion: Trump’s feel-good Made in America event won’t win the trade war]
Tariffs are the greatest! Either a country which has treated the United States unfairly on Trade negotiates a fair deal, or it gets hit with Tariffs. It’s as simple as that – and everybody’s talking! Remember, we are the “piggy bank” that’s being robbed. All will be Great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2018
Trump has imposed steel and aluminum tariffs totaling $34 billion on China, and recently announced another $200 billion on Chinese goods entreating the U.S. Canada, Mexico, and the European Union were also hit with steel and aluminum tariffs. In addition, Trump has threatened new tariffs on automobiles, and has said he is prepared to impose tariffs on all imports from China if necessary.
The tariffs have been criticized by Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who say Trump’s tariffs will do more harm to their constituents.
[More: Trump’s trade war rattles Chuck Grassley: ‘I hope he knows what he’s doing’]
In an earlier tweet, Trump said his tactics have caused “countries that have treated us unfairly on trade for years” to travel to Washington, D.C., to negotiate.
Countries that have treated us unfairly on trade for years are all coming to Washington to negotiate. This should have taken place many years ago but,
as the saying goes, better late than never!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2018
Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, is set to visit the White House on Wednesday.
