When the White House finally released the text of Trump's orders on Thursday evening, some of the tariffs covered in the US-Canada trade agreements that Trump negotiated and celebrated in his first term seemed to have actually been suspended forever. Other tariffs have simply been suspended.
Most people involved were confused, but that might have been the point.
As Trump makes tariff decisions and pulls them back for a month or so, world leaders call on them to sue their lawsuit. The CEO also called, making it clear that Trump needs to deal with car parts from Canada and chips from China.
And the president responds as if he is giving pardon, but not pardon. In a normal presidency, when tariffs are discussed by a class of experts and aides, their potential impacts are carefully heavy, and in the Trump White House, the decision is partly whim, partly weave, partly picket. The explanation of what caused the imposition of changes in tariffs and the decision to delay or suspend them is not accompanied by detailed evidence. Trump himself says he will make calls based on his latest conversation.
“It was a short-term deal,” he told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday afternoon, asking about a call the top executive of the American automaker the day before. “They came back to me yesterday. They said, 'Can you help me with the tariffs for speed?” And I said, 'Look, I'm going to do it, but that's all.' They'll come back to me after the second time. April 2nd”
He quickly added: “I don't want to hear from you after April 2nd.”
Whether he holds tight is a once again open question. This may depend on the market. Or more industry declarations could depend on, like Brian Cornell, the CEO of one target created this week, before the latest tariff shift. The retail chain leader said customers looking for avocados, lettuce and other staples “are likely to see price increases over the next few days.”
