From PBS NewsHour.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer testified Tuesday before Congress as the U.S. and world leaders wrestled with fallout of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs plan, which set off days of wild global market swings and warnings about a recession.
Democrats, economists and other countries have blasted the tariffs since Trump announced his plan last week, emphasizing deep and negative effects for U.S. consumers, as well as wider geopolitical consequences. Several economists have said the formula the White House used to develop the tariffs, which were much higher than expected, is flawed and misunderstands some key trade metrics.
In his opening statement Tuesday, Greer pointed to a large trade deficit and how tariffs move the U.S. “in the right direction, particularly as we start to negotiate with these countries.”
“We must move away from an economy that’s based solely on government spending and the financial sector, and we must become an economy based on producing real goods and services that provide jobs for working class and middle class Americans in their communities,” said Greer, an attorney and Air Force veteran.
“This adjustment may be challenging at times. And in a moment of drastic overdue change, I’m confident, I’m certain that the American people can rise to the challenges they’ve done before,” he added.
Some Republicans have defended the tariffs as a way to create leverage with other countries. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week he and Greer planned to enter negotiations with trade partners including Japan.
The Senate voted last week to end previously announced tariffs on Canada, a bill that is not expected to advance through the House. But it marked a break in support from Republicans; four GOP lawmakers joined Democrats to pass the bill. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced during the Tuesday hearing he was introducing a privileged resolution to “end the latest crop of global tariffs.” Trump has threatened to veto another bipartisan Senate bill that seeks to limit the president’s tariffs power.
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