Trump says tariffs 'hurt' Americans, but will 'make America great again'

President Trump said Americans may feel "pain" from the tariffs he has imposed on key US trading partners, but argued it was "worth it" to protect Washington's interests.

President Donald Trump at the White House on January 31 - Photo: REUTERS

President Donald Trump admitted on February 2 that the tariffs he recently imposed on Mexico, Canada and China could cause "a little pain" for Americans, while Wall Street and America's largest trading partners expressed hope that the trade war would not last long, according to Reuters.

"We will no longer be a 'foolish nation'" - President Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social.

“This will be a golden age for America,” he wrote in capital letters. “Will it be a little painful? Yes, maybe, maybe not. But we will make America great again, and it will be worth it.”

According to Reuters, Mr. Trump did not explain clearly what he meant when he wrote "a little pain".

President Trump's post came after he signed an executive order imposing tariffs of up to 25% on all imports from Mexico and most goods from Canada, and 10% on Chinese goods imported into the US.

On February 1, Mr. Trump fulfilled his commitment to impose high tariffs on goods from the US's three largest trading partners, Canada, China and Mexico, citing the national emergency of the opioid fentanyl and illegal immigration into the US.

Critics say Mr Trump's move will slow global growth and push up prices for US consumers, but Mr Trump has defended his decision.

On February 2, China's Ministry of Commerce said that the US's imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods "seriously violated" World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. The ministry announced that it would file a complaint against the US at the WTO and take "countermeasures."

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ong-trump-noi-thue-quan-lam-dan-my-dau-don-nhung-se-lam-my-vi-dai-tro-lai-20250203071739711.htm