‘Trade wars are good and easy to win’: Trump defends steel, aluminium tariff measures amid global outrage
After weeks of rumours about his administration’s intentions, he announced he would sign off on measures designed to protect American producers next week
US President Donald Trump spoke out defiantly on Friday against global criticism of his plan to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, seeming to welcome the idea of a trade war.
“When a country [USA] is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every country it does business with, trade wars are good, and easy to win,” Trump wrote in an early morning tweet.
“Example, when we are down $100 billion with a certain country and they get cute, don’t trade any more – we win big. It’s easy!” the president wrote.
“We must protect our country and our workers. Our steel industry is in bad shape. IF YOU DON’T HAVE STEEL, YOU DON’T HAVE A COUNTRY!”
After weeks of rumours about his administration’s intentions, Trump on Thursday announced he would sign off on measures designed to protect US producers next week.