During his campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump made waves with a bold promise: a “universal tariff” of up to 20% on all imported goods. This idea, aimed at boosting American manufacturing, sounded great to some but left many economists and Republican lawmakers worried. Why? Because slapping such steep tariffs on imports could hit Americans hard at the checkout counter—think pricier groceries and goods across the board.
But according to a recent report from The Washington Post, that sweeping tariff plan might not make it off the drawing board.
A Shift in Focus
Instead of targeting all imports, Trump’s team is reportedly narrowing its aim. Insiders suggest they’re eyeing specific industries deemed essential for America’s national or economic security. These could include:
- Defense materials: Like steel, aluminum, and copper.
- Medical supplies: Think syringes, needles, and pharmaceutical ingredients.
- Energy production: Including batteries, rare earth minerals, and even solar panels.
Jeff Stein, an economics reporter for The Washington Post, cited three anonymous sources who claim the plan is still in flux, with no firm decisions yet. If true, this would mark a significant departure from Trump’s original pledge of universal tariffs—at least for now.
Tariffs and Tensions
Trump hasn’t backed down from flexing his tariff muscle elsewhere. He’s issued sharp warnings to trading partners, including Mexico, Canada, and China, threatening tariffs as high as 25% if they don’t curb the flow of drugs and migrants into the U.S.
Even the European Union hasn’t escaped his crosshairs. In a fiery social media post, Trump claimed to have told EU leaders to fix the trade gap with the U.S. by purchasing American oil and gas—or face hefty tariffs. His words:
“I told the European Union that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large-scale purchase of our oil and gas. Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way.”
What’s Next?
While the details remain murky, one thing is clear: Trump’s tariff plans are evolving. Whether this strategy shift leads to a targeted approach or a complete overhaul remains to be seen.
Stay tuned for more updates, and in the meantime, don’t forget to check out the latest political news at Raw Story.