During a recent press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reportedly took a jab at former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi regarding the Trump administration’s implementation of a “retaliatory tariff” against China.
Leavitt pointed out that Pelosi, in her past statements, had advocated for similar measures to address the trade deficit with China, suggesting that she should appreciate the actions being taken now.
Leavitt referenced a clip from 1996 in which Pelosi criticized the economic relationship between the U.S. and China, highlighting that China imposed an average tariff of 35% on American goods while the U.S. maintained a meager 2% tariff on Chinese imports.
She had noted that this imbalance resulted in a significant job disparity, supporting millions of jobs in China compared to a mere fraction in the U.S. This “status quo,” as Pelosi termed it, was unacceptable and needed addressing.
Quoting Pelosi’s previous statements, Leavitt remarked that the former speaker had questioned how long America would continue to endure such a problematic trade relationship.
She noted, “Well, President Trump is finally answering her call.” Leavitt went on to announce the 104% retaliatory tariff that the administration plans to impose on China, reinforcing her point that the current actions are a direct response to the concerns Pelosi raised decades ago.
This exchange underscores the complexity of trade politics in the U.S. as different administrations take varied approaches to economic relations with China.
Leavitt’s comments aimed to highlight the current administration’s commitment to addressing trade imbalances while turning Pelosi’s historical pro-China stance against her.
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