President Trump on Monday talked up the idea of more tariffs against unfair imports, on the same day his administration was expected to hit another $200 billion worth of Chinese imports with tariffs.
“Tariffs have put the U.S. in a very strong bargaining position, with Billions of Dollars, and Jobs, flowing into our Country – and yet cost increases have thus far been almost unnoticeable,” he tweeted. “If countries will not make fair deals with us, they will be ‘Tariffed!'”
Administration officials said over the weekend that a third, massive wave of trade penalties could be announced as early as Monday, to protest China’s ongoing violations of U.S. intellectual property rights. Trump has already approved tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods, and the new move would bring that total to $250 billion, in addition to tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum.
Trump set his effort to protect steel and aluminum producers from unfair overseas competition has given them a chance to compete.
“Our Steel Industry is the talk of the World,” he tweeted. “It has been given new life, and is thriving. Billions of Dollars is being spent on new plants all around the country!”