No. of Recommendations: 5
Yes, so he will be imposing “global” 10% tariffs on some other legal basis (Trade Act section 122).
I finally got around to watching the presser last night. Two takeaways:
-there will never be a refund of tariff money already paid. The first time he was asked, he said he will keep it tied up in litigation for two years. Moments later, he was asked about refunds again, and said words to the effect "weren't you listening? they will be tied up in litigation for five years". He is expert at keeping things tied up in litigation, for years. He uses a "whack-a-mole" strategy: make one claim, run it through the system, losing at every step, until it reaches SCOTUS, losing there too. Then he makes another claim, runs that one all the way to SCOTUS, losing at every stop, Then he makes another claim. Wash, rinse, repeat. He has the best legal talent money can buy, and all the resources of the United States, to run the litigation for as many years as he wants.
-while the 150 day clock is running, he will have every country investigated for trade violations. By now, every member of staff in every department should understand the consequences of telling him something he does not want to hear. Every investigation will find the country in question "guilty as charged", and will recommend the tariff level that he wants.
In 150 days, we will be right back to where we were three days ago.
Steve
