White House defends tariffs ahead of ‘Liberation Day’published at 18:55 British Summer Time 31 March
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBCJust a few moments ago, we heard from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who addressed reporters outside the West Wing.
In brief question-and-answer session with US and foreign reporters, Leavitt was asked whether there is anything countries can do to stave off the impending tariffs.
“Unfortunately, these countries have been ripping our country off for far too long,” she said. “They’ve made, I think, their disdain for these the American worker quite clear.”
She gave several examples, including a 50% EU tariff on American dairy, a 700% Japanese tariff on American rice and a 100% tariff in India on American agriculture products.
“This makes it virtually impossible for American products to be imported into these markets, and…
