White House advisers split on defending Trump tariffs as permanent or a negotiating tactic 

Published April 7, 2025 8:38am ET



As President Donald Trump pushes forward his sweeping tariff policy, White House advisers are giving mixed messages on what the future holds for the policy.

Trump unveiled 10% “reciprocal” tariffs on most of the world, which went into effect on Saturday. He also announced higher tariff rates for select other countries, which will go into effect on Wednesday, per the White House. Since the tariffs were announced, stock markets globally have tanked, and the economic impact of the tariffs has alarmed analysts.

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