WASHINGTON (Reuters) – White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett played down economic concerns over President Donald Trump’s tariffs, saying the president has talked to world leaders all weekend and will listen to proposals for great deals.
“He’s doubling down on something that he knows works, and he’s going to continue to do that,” Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said on Fox News. “But he is also going to listen to our trading partners, and if they come to us with really great deals that advantage American manufacturing and American farmers, I’m sure he’ll listen.”
Trump has been talking to world leaders all weekend, Hassett said. Taiwan reached out overnight, he added, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is coming to the White House on Monday with trade policy and Middle East policy on the agenda.
Countries are lining up to make deals, Hassett said.
“In President Trump’s view is it’s these countries that are sending inelastic supply to the country, and so they’re going to bear the brunt of the tariffs,” Hassett said.
“And if that were false, then like, so if they didn’t bear the brunt, then they’d be quiet about it, right? The fact that they’re all angry and upset, and, you know, setting retaliation our way, it suggests that President Trump is right that they bear the tariffs.”
(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Toby Chopra and Chizu Nomiyama)
Comments