WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to roll back certain tariffs on steel and aluminum products, the Financial Times reported Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Officials from the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office reportedly believe that the tariffs have increased consumer costs for everyday goods, including pie tins and food-and-drink cans. Rising prices are a growing concern for voters and are expected to play a key role in the upcoming November midterm elections.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that only 30% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the cost-of-living issues, while 59% disapprove, including nine in ten Democrats and one in five Republicans.
Trump previously imposed tariffs of up to 50% on steel and aluminum imports and has frequently used them as a negotiating tool with various trading partners. The administration is now reviewing the affected products and reportedly plans to exempt certain items, halt further expansions of the tariff lists, and conduct more targeted national security investigations on specific goods.
The White House and the Commerce Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Trump recently highlighted his economic record in Detroit, emphasizing U.S. manufacturing and his efforts to tackle high consumer costs, as the administration seeks to address growing economic concerns among American households.
Last year, the U.S. Commerce Department raised steel and aluminum tariffs on more than 400 products, including wind turbines, mobile cranes, appliances, bulldozers, railcars, motorcycles, marine engines, and furniture, among others.
-Reuters
-Thestar
