President Donald Trump is dismissing concerns that tariffs on imported goods from China could raise consumer costs, saying in an interview that “China probably will eat those tariffs.”
Trump was asked about the trade war with China in an ABC News interview airing April 29.
ABC News anchor and Senior National Correspondent Terry Moran said the 145% tariffs are “basically an embargo.”
“That’s good,” Trump responded. “They deserve it.”
Economists say the tariffs could lead to higher prices on a range of imported goods.
“It’ll raise prices on everything from electronics to clothing to building houses,” Moran said.
“You don’t know that. You don’t know whether or not China’s going to eat it,” Trump responded, before adding that China would probably absorb the tariff costs.
“At 145 they basically can’t do much business with the United States,” Trump added.
Trump also defended his deportation tactics. Pressed on whether undocumented immigrants should get court hearings before being removed from the country, the president said “if people come into our country illegally there’s a different standard.”
In the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador, the Trump administration admitted in court that he was removed because of an “administrative error.” The president said an administration attorney “should not have said that” and that he’s “not the one making this decision” on whether to return him.
Trump defended his moves to punish perceived opponents, including revoking security clearances and going after law firms with executive orders, some of which accuse the firms of being “partisan” in the clients they represented.
“When you say I’m treating people rough, I’m not treating people rough,” Trump said. “I was treated worse than any president in the history of our country. And you know, people figured, well, maybe that’s it… he’s leaving town, there goes the helicopter, and then I came back, and I have tremendous support.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump says China will absorb tariff costs in ABC interview
