The White House is preparing to roll out the next phase of the Trump administration's trade offensive Thursday, with reports suggesting a fresh round of tariffs will be announced to replace duties set to lapse at the end of the week.
The timing marks a critical juncture for Trump's tariff strategy, which took a legal hit in February when the Supreme Court invalidated many of his original levies. The administration responded by implementing a blanket 10% tariff on most countries, but those measures expire Friday, leaving a window that the White House plans to close with new trade restrictions.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the announcement would come Thursday through Jamieson Greer, the US trade representative, though she declined to preview specifics. "I don't want to get ahead of him, so I would just tell you to stay tuned for more details," she said.
The administration has repeatedly framed aggressive tariffs as an economic stimulus designed to rebuild manufacturing in America's industrial regions and generate employment. Officials argue the strategy will position the US economy for stronger growth.
Critics have raised alarms about the inflationary impact of broad tariffs, warning that increased import costs would translate into higher prices for consumers. US inflation reached a three-year peak earlier this year, stoking concern that tariff-driven pressure could reignite price growth.
During Senate testimony Wednesday, Greer pushed back against those concerns. When questioned by Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren about whether tariffs had raised prices for American households, he flatly denied it. "No," he responded, citing a decline in core inflation to 2.6% year over year from January levels. Core inflation strips out volatile food and energy costs from the measure.
Overall inflation remains slightly elevated compared to when President Joe Biden left office, complicating the administration's argument that tariffs have not fueled price pressures. The disconnect between official claims and consumer experience with retail prices is likely to intensify as new tariffs take effect.
Author James Rodriguez: "The math doesn't add up here, and the administration's confidence about pricing is getting shakier by the day."
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