Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday the Chinese will be the only ones paying higher prices under his proposed tariff system, rejecting claims U.S. consumers will end up paying more if he imposes across-the-board levies on imports from countries that undercut American industries.
Mr. Trump said the proof is evident in the Biden-Harris administration’s policy of keeping Trump-era Chinese tariffs in place.
“If she doesn’t like ’em, they should have gone out and immediately cut the tariffs,” Mr. Trump said at the presidential debate in Philadelphia.
Mr. Trump loves the idea of taxing imports, saying it protects American factories and workers and can pay for U.S. programs such as childcare.
Economists have warned that aggressive tariffs might result in markups shoved onto consumers.
Ms. Harris warned of such consequences from the debate stage and said many of Mr. Trump’s trade battles didn’t work out.
“The Trump administration resulted in a trade deficit,” she said.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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