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US trade chief defends tariffs as Democrats say Trump ‘in denial’ over price hikes
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer denied that President Trump's tariffs have increased prices for American families, despite inflation reaching a three-year high earlier this year.
- Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren cited estimates showing families have paid an average of $1,700 more in tariff-related costs since Trump's return to office, challenging Greer's claims.
- The US Supreme Court ruled many of Trump's tariffs illegal in February, leading to a temporary 10% tariff regime set to expire soon, with indications of a new wave of duties to replace it.
- Senator Raphael Warnock criticized the administration for denying the tariffs' role in rising prices, emphasizing that multiple studies and common experience confirm tariffs have contributed to inflation.
- Greer struggled to provide evidence refuting the inflation impact of tariffs during a Senate finance committee hearing, focusing instead on unrelated price examples when pressed by Warnock.
