From PBS NewsHour.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Tuesday that sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries will go into effect as planned this week, as economists warned of a recession and other countries vowed to retaliate.

Greer was pressed by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., on whether the tariffs would go into effect as promised Wednesday, even as President Donald Trump signaled he would be open to negotiations.
"Yes, they’re scheduled to go into effect, we are having negotiations with all kinds of countries at this time," Greer said during a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee.

"So it’s not a question of something being scheduled. You’re committing this morning that they’re going to go into effect?" Wyden asked.

"This is what the president has said," Greer said.

Trump announced the tariffs plan last week in an event he called "Liberation Day," saying they were aimed at resolving a longtime trade deficit with partners around the world. Some Republicans have defended the tariffs as a way to create leverage with other countries. Democrats, economists and other countries have blasted the plan, 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.

Greer said he was in negotiations with more than 50 countries and added that many other countries have "explained that they are not going to retaliate against the United States."

Wyden asked specifically about China, which on Tuesday promised to take its own measures against the U.S. and "fight to the end” for their interests after Trump threatened additional tariffs.
"We’re trying to remedy a situation that persisted for many years, and it would be wonderful if the Chinese agreed with that and wanted to persist in, you know, work with us on that, but that’s not where they are, and the president has recognized this and he wants to focus on other partners," Greer said.

"I just am concerned that there’s no strategy at all," Wyden said. "I don’t see any strategy at all, and you really haven’t said much about what the strategy is this morning."

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