“Trump team considers applying universal tariffs, a key campaign promise, only to essential imports”

WP Report…”Potential Application Limited to Defense, Medical Sectors Due to Inflation Concerns”,
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U.S. President-elect Donald Trump
[Yonhap News=File Photo],
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, ‘(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Ji-Woo Lim = The Washington Post (WP), citing multiple sources familiar with the matter, reported on the 6th (local time) that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s team is considering limiting the implementation of the universal tariff, which was a key campaign promise, to certain essential import items.’,
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, ‘According to the sources, with only about two weeks left until Trump’s inauguration, his aides are discussing applying the campaign promise of a 10-20% universal tariff to all countries.’,
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, ‘However, the discussions are currently focusing on imposing this tariff only on items related to specific sectors deemed critical to U.S. national and economic security, rather than applying it to all imports, the sources said.’,
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, ‘The sources emphasized that no final decision has been made yet and the plan is still fluid.’,
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, ‘If the universal tariff is applied only to certain items as discussed, it would mean a weakening of one of Trump’s key campaign pledges on tariffs.’,
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, ‘During the election campaign, Trump promised to levy a 10-20% universal tariff on all imports to the U.S.’,
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, ‘WP noted that these recent discussions reflect a recognition that applying the universal tariff as promised could immediately impact the prices of imports closely related to Americans’ daily lives, such as imported food and cheap electronics, making it a politically unpopular policy.’,
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, ‘However, even if the items are restricted, the fact that the universal tariff is still being considered for all countries indicates Trump’s team’s intent to prevent foreign countries from exporting to the U.S. through third countries, the report pointed out.’,
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, ‘Furthermore, even with a reduced intensity, this universal tariff policy is still likely to disrupt global trade and have significant consequences for the U.S. economy and consumers.’,
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, ‘It remains unclear which specific imports or industries the incoming Trump administration will target with the universal tariff.’,
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, ‘The sources stated that in preliminary discussions, Trump’s team focused heavily on certain key sectors where they want to regain production leadership.’,
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, ‘These include raw materials related to the defense industry like steel, aluminum, and copper, medical supplies such as syringes, needles, and vials, and energy production-related items like batteries, rare earth materials, and solar panels, according to two sources.’,
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, ‘wisefool@yna.co.kr’,
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