White House defends tariffs on Brazil despite trade surplus
This was one of the most awkward and painful interviews of a Trump official I have seen. This poor man, the one with a toothy grin seemingly implanted on his face, was forced to defend the absurd tariff on Brazil, and he couldnt pull it off.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
ABC NEWS Jonathan Karl : But let me, let me ask you about one new set of tariffs that he announced on Brazil. Fifty percent new tariff on Brazil. Brazil had a $6.8 billion surplus last year. In fact, the U.S. hasn't had a trade deficit with Brazil since 2007. I mean, almost two decades. So why, why, why are we putting a punishing 50 percent tariff on Brazil?
Trump economic adviser KEVIN HASSETT: Well, bottom line is the president has been very frustrated with negotiations with Brazil and also with the actions of Brazil. In the end, though, you know, we're trying to put America first. I think that a lot of people, when I'm talking to negotiators from other country is at some point they'll say, "What did we do wrong?"
And what I'm trying to get -- the message we're all trying to get across is this is about America getting itself ready for the golden age by getting our house in order, by getting our tariff and trade policy and tax policy exactly where it needs to be for a golden age.
And normally, it's not necessarily about a specific country, but with Brazil, it is. Their actions have shocked the president at times, and he's made -- been clear about that.
KARL: But I don't -- I don't understand how you're saying it's about America because the president has made it quite clear that what he's upset about is how the Brazilian Supreme Court has handled the criminal case involving former President Bolsonaro. I mean --
HASSETT: I'm agreeing with you. What I'm saying is that what I've been saying with most countries was that it's really about us getting the tariffs in order. And I think that this tariff for Brazil is a lot higher because of the president's frustration with Bolsonaro.
KARL: But --
HASSETT: And the fact that Bolsonaro himself -- you know, anyway --
(CROSSTALK)
KARL: But can you explain to me, because I find it confusing here, what -- on what authority does the president have to impose tariffs on a country because he doesn't like what that country's judicial system is handling a specific case?
HASSETT: Well --
KARL: I mean, how -- how is that --
HASSETT: If he thinks it's a national defense emergency or if he thinks it’s a national security threat, that he has the authority under IEEPA.
KARL: So, how is it a national security threat that, you know, how Brazil is handling a criminal case against this former president?
HASSETT: Well, that's not the only thing. That's not the only thing. I mean --
KARL: So, what is it? I mean, I've asked what it is. I mean, it seems that that's what President Trump's talking about. He's talking about his anger and his frustration. He's been quite candid about it with the Bolsonaro case.
HASSETT: Right. Well, the bottom line is that what we're doing absolutely collectively across every country is we're onshoring production in the U.S. to reduce the national emergency that is -- that we have a massive trade deficit, that's putting it at risk should we need production in the U.S. because of a national security crisis. And this is part of an overall strategy to do that.
KARL: But again, as we've just established, we have a trade surplus with Brazil, not a deficit.
HASSETT: But --
KARL: And we've had a surplus with Brazil for 18 years.
HASSETT: If you look at an overall strategy, if you don't have an overall strategy for this, then there'll be trans shipping and everything else, and you won't achieve your objectives.
KARL: Okay. I'm still confused, but let me move on.
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To stand there on the White House driveway and grinningly support this utter BS by Trump shows the grip Trump has on his minions and lackeys.
But of course. Trump has been acting as if he thinks he's the King of the World and his serfs all must kowtow to him. Not only that, his Brazil 50% tariff indicates that he thinks that every country in the world must kowtow to him as well. If only the American people could fathom what THEY will suffer because of him. Some already have, but I'm sure it will become worse.
White House defends tariffs on Brazil despite trade surplus
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett defended President Donald Trump’s newly unveiled 50% tariff against Brazil , the United States ’ second-largest trading partner, claiming the move is part of the administration’s broader global tariff strategy.
Speaking with ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl, Hassett said that the president has the authority to impose new tariffs if he thinks there is a national defense emergency or a national security threat -- though Trump’s letter to Brazil highlighted the ongoing criminal case against his political ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro.
“So how is it a national security threat ... how Brazil is handling a criminal case against its former president?” Karl asked.
“Well, that's not the only thing,” Hassett said.
“The bottom line is that what we're doing absolutely, collectively across every country is we're onshoring production in the U.S. to reduce the national emergency, that is, that we have a massive trade deficit that's putting us at risk should we need production in the U.S. because of a national security crisis,” he added.
“But again, as we've just established, we have a trade surplus with Brazil, not a deficit,” Karl noted.
“If you look at an overall strategy, if you don't have an overall strategy for this, then there'll be transshipping and everything else, and you won't achieve your objectives,” Hassett said.
It's a "security threat" since Brazil is going backwards on its fascist ideology. The head Fascist is facing a prison sentence and the rest of Brazil is breathing easier these days.
BTW Elsewhere in this interview Hassett specifically suggested Trump may have been the most successful businessman of the 20th century.
How many bankruptcies and failed business ventures did he have in the 20th century?
that's a laugh. I guess Hassett never heard of Jeff Bezos
he's been too far down the rabbit hole for too long ...