WASHINGTON — President Trump did not immediately impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico as he previously promised, but he says he may impose 25% duties on the two countries on February 1st over illegal immigrants and fentanyl crossing into the United States.
During a conference call with reporters this morning, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s optimistic on Trump’s potential plan. “Well I’m a free trader. I voted for the USMCA. On the other hand, I think Trump has a new approach to tariffs, to put them on, bring people to the table, get freer trade. I don’t know if it’s going to work, but I’m not going to bad mouth Trump in the meantime. I’m going to hope it works. If it doesn’t, ask me when it doesn’t work.”
Grassley was asked if there’s a misunderstanding by Trump who actually pays import duties, saying it’s foreign companies and exporters and not domestic US importers who usually pass that cost along to consumers. “That will only be determined. As you’ve heard me say, the president is doing a new approach to tariffs, one that hasn’t been used for 94 years. We just have to wait and see how it works out, and there’s no other comment I can give at this point.”
Trump touted tariffs throughout his campaign, saying it would generate massive amounts of federal income as his administration worked to rebuild American industry.
