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The Return of President Trump’s Tariffs  

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(Washington D.C.) – It seems the first day of August will be the second iteration of Liberation Day. President Donald Trump’s administration has announced a series of tariffs being rolled out against several trade partners. On the campaign trail, Trump maintained his foreign policy approach would include levying tariffs against countries. Trump claimed it was the only way to make trade partners pay their fair share to import goods into the United States. On April 2nd, Trump rolled out sweeping tariffs that were then paused to allow for the countries to sign onto new trade agreements. 

The White House previously said in April the administration was aiming to sign 90 deals in 90 days. Those were the words of trade adviser Peter Navarro when he spoke to Fox Business when the 90-day pause on tariffs was first announced. The pause was further extended to allow trade talks to develop. This week, Trump previewed the coming tariffs against several countries including Japan, Malaysia, South Africa and Serbia. Trump also announced 50 percent tariffs against Brazil, motivated by political persecution. Trump claims that the country’s leaders engaged in a “witch hunt” against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Trump addressed the letter directly to current President Lula da Silva. Trump says the trial against Bolsonaro, who is facing election interference charges, should end immediately. 

Senior Trade Counselor, Peter Navarro, was on 77WABC’s Cats Roundtable where he said President Trump is just doing what’s fair 

So far, the response from other countries has been cautious. As the talks continue in attempts to reach deals, trading partners have been transparent about willingness to come to the table. Japan, South Korea and South Africa all announced they were ramping up negotiations. However, in the case of Brazil, President da Silva is not moved by Trump’s tariff threats. The South American leader says tariffs against Brazil would result in the suspension of trade, investment and intellectual property contracts. According to da Silva, the US walks away with $410 billion in surplus from trade with Brazil over the past 15 years. 

President Donald Trump with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Saturday night, March 7, 2020. Trump’s populist counterpart in Brazil was elected in 2018 vowing to Make Brazil great again. © Allen Eyestone / USA TODAY NETWORK

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are largely split along party lines, with some Republicans a bit wary over the economic impact of tariffs. South Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis, member of the Senate Finance Committee, told The Hill that businesses need stability, and the questions swirling around tariffs tamper with that consistency. Many Republicans are hopeful deals will be reached, but want to see progress develop a bit quicker. There’s also some optimism surrounding the recent passage of the Big Beautiful Bill, which the GOP claim will counterbalance any potential economic setbacks from tariffs. 

Peter Navarro, Senior Counselor to the President for Trade and Manufacturing does a a media interview outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington DC, on Monday July 7, 2025. The White House announced it was again delaying reciprocal tariffs until August 1. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Sipa USA)

Meanwhile Democrats are pulling out all the stops to prevent the implementation of tariffs. Nearly 200 lawmakers, including 28 Senators and 162 House Representatives, all signed onto a legal brief in support of a lawsuit filed against the tariffs. Democrats argue tariffs will leader to higher costs for consumers and small business owners. The case targets Trump’s invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and is currently set for oral arguments before the US Federal Court of Appeals on July 31st.

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