Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick took a victory lap over President Donald Trump’s newly announced tariffs on countries worldwide, saying it tells the world to either buy U.S. products or “don’t bother coming here.”
The Trump administration announced its new round of tariffs on Wednesday, which include a 67% tariff on China’s imports, 46% on Japan’s imports, 10% on the United Kingdom’s imports, and 10% on United Arab Emirates imports.
When asked why the United States had not worked to create more fair trade across the globe, Lutnick blamed “soft politicians” for failing to take a stand earlier. Lutnick added that it is “unbelievable” how the European Union would not accept goods such as chicken and lobster from the U.S., and yet other countries can sell their cars freely within the U.S.
“They just block us, and finally, finally, the man behind the resolute desk, the man in the Oval Office, Donald Trump, is finally standing up for our farmers, our ranchers, and our manufacturers to let the world understand either they’re buying our products or don’t bother coming here unless you’re paying for the right to come,” Lutnick stated on Fox News’s Hannity.
Lutnick explained how the tariffs, along with the $4 trillion in investments from other countries into the U.S., will return “tradecraft” back to the states, including jobs in “high tech.” He added that the U.S. is “tired” of these types of jobs going to other countries like Taiwan and that it is now time for production jobs to return to the U.S.
When asked about the negotiations with other countries, Lutnick said that representatives from these countries had told him, “I can’t believe we got away with it this long.” Lutnick added that these countries, “of course,” recognize that it is time to negotiate with the U.S.
Lutnick explained one example of unfairness in trade barriers is how the U.S. accepts cars from Korea in exchange for the U.S. selling produce. Still, McDonald’s was not allowed to sell french fries since they could not prove “the origin of the potato.” Korea offered to remove this barrier last week ahead of Trump’s Liberation Day announcements.
TRUMP BETS HIS PRESIDENCY ON TARIFFS
Not everyone is enthusiastic about these tariffs. Former Vice President Mike Pence has deemed them “the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history,” adding that they could cost families over $3,500 annually. Lutnick rebuffed the former vice president, arguing that Pence is “just bitter” and does not understand the “concept” of America First.
Mike Pence is just bitter. These tariffs are the definition of America First, which is a concept he doesn’t understand. https://t.co/tpQR4XfS84
— Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick) April 3, 2025
In the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday, Trump declared that the U.S. had been “pillaged” by nations “both friend and foe alike” and that going forward, “it is our turn to prosper.”