Trump on tariffs raising prices: ‘Can’t guarantee anything’

President-elect Donald Trump said he can’t promise that his proposed tariffs won’t raise costs for Americans.

In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Sunday, host Kristen Welker asked Mr. Trump about his tariffs plan and pointed out that economists say the plan would affect consumers.

Mr. Trump said he doesn’t “believe” that would happen, but when pressed about it, he said he “can’t guarantee anything.”

“I can’t guarantee tomorrow. But I can say that if you look at my — just pre-COVID, we had the greatest economy in the history of our country,” Mr. Trump said.

Asked about companies like Walmart, Black & Decker and AutoZone that have said they will have to raise prices because of the planned tariffs, the president-elect doubled down.

“They cost Americans nothing. They made a great economy for us. They also solve another problem. If we were going to have problems having to do with wars and having to do with other things, tariffs — I have stopped wars with tariffs by saying, ‘You guys want to fight, it’s great. But both of you are going to pay tariffs to the United States at 100 percent.’”

He called tariffs a “very powerful tool, not only economically, but also for getting other things outside of economics,” if used properly.

Mr. Trump has threatened tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China.

In November, he said he would impose a 25% tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico on his first day in office. He said they would come down once the United States’ neighbors crack down on the transportation of fentanyl and illegal immigrants.

He said a 10% tariff would be placed on Chinese goods.

The three countries are some of the U.S.’s biggest trading partners.

During his first administration, he imposed tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum, some from Canada and Mexico.

In the interview, he said the “market” would take care of any price raises due to tariffs.

“And if it doesn’t, we adjust it somewhat,” he said.

He said tariffs are going “to make our country rich [and] help us pay off $35 trillion in debt.”

He noted that he spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum about tariffs.