On Thursday's Fox News channel's “Ingraham Angle,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent discussed President Donald Trump's mutual tariff plans, saying, “If there's tariffs, we'll put them at the same level. If we put them zero, we'll get zero. It will be.”
asked host Laura Ingraham. [relevant exchange begins around 00:55] “[A]What others are asking is why not focus solely on China? In 2023, there was a trade deficit of $279 billion (the goods manufactured in 2023. Europe was around 260 billion, more, Mexico, high. But they are our allies. So why Are you mean to our allies to Mr. Secretary?”
“Well, Laura, Look, China is the most disproportionate and disproportionate country in world history, and President Trump warned the American people of that during his first term, and took action,” Bescent said. But now we can see, are your friends taking advantage of you? If they are using you, are they your friends? We are Europeans and If you have a huge trade deficit and President Trump is talking about mutual tariffs, what is the issue with mutual tariffs? If there are tariffs, it's the same level. If you set it to zero, then you'll see It'll become zero.”
Bessent also said that non-tariff barriers could be as bad as tariffs and would be studied.
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