While campaigning for the presidency in 2020, Joe Biden criticized then-President Donald Trump's decision to slap tariffs on a wide range of goods imported from China. Once getting into the White House, however, Biden has maintained those tariffs—and even added to them.
Asked in 2022 about that apparent contradiction, Biden's top trade official said the administration was unwilling to draw down Trump's tariffs because they were crucial "leverage" that could be applied to China.
