President-elect Donald Trump has refuted a Washington Post report suggesting his aides were considering a more restrained tariff policy. The report claimed that Trump’s transition team was contemplating a tariff plan that would be less extensive than his campaign promises, targeting only imports deemed critical to national or economic security.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to dismiss these claims as “Fake News.” He stated, “The story in the Washington Post, quoting so-called anonymous sources, which don’t exist, incorrectly states that my tariff policy will be pared back. That is wrong. The Washington Post knows it’s wrong. It’s just another example of Fake News.”
During his campaign, Trump had proposed imposing tariffs of 10% or 20% across the board on all imported goods, with a 60% tariff specifically on Chinese imports. However, the Washington Post’s article suggested a shift towards a more targeted approach, focusing on sectors like the defense industrial supply chain, critical medical supplies, and energy production.
The Washington Post’s report, which cited three anonymous sources, indicated that these plans were still in flux. It also noted that the Trump administration had recently considered tariffs on all electric battery materials globally to encourage domestic production, as reported by Reuters.
Despite this, Trump’s denial has led to increased uncertainty among business leaders regarding future U.S. trade policies. Financial markets reacted positively to the report, with some investors hoping for a less aggressive tariff stance, which could lead to reduced inflationary pressures.
Trump’s firm rebuttal underscores his intention to maintain the tariff policies he outlined during his campaign, although the exact implementation remains to be seen as he prepares to take office.
Article generated from legacy media reports.
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