Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared that access to “cheap goods is not the essence of the American Dream” in a swift defense of President Donald Trump’s tariffs that have led to a turbulent stock market.
The president imposed his long-anticipated 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada as well as an additional 10 percent tariff on China on Tuesday, causing a rollercoaster of a stock market. Days later, his treasury secretary doubled down on Trump’s policy stance. It came before Trump announced Thursday a delay in enacting tariffs on both Canada and Mexico.
