WH Spokesperson Confirms: 10% Reciprocal Rates Cannot Be Negotiated Away
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, in a press briefing on May 8, told a reporter that even after the negotiations are done with the U.K., the president is not open to removing an additional 10% tariff on nearly all British goods. Countries like the U.K., that buy more U.S. goods than they export to the U.S., were hit with 10% tariffs, on the argument that if their trade barriers were lower, they would buy even more.
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"The president is committed to the 10% baseline tariff not just for the United Kingdom, but for his trade negotiations with all other countries as well," Leavitt said. The reporter asked if the 10% reciprocity tariff is permanent, and Leavitt responded, "The president is determined to continue with that 10% baseline tariff, I just spoke with him about it earlier."