US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that despite the Supreme Court striking down most of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, the administration has alternative measures to maintain its trade strategy. Greer emphasized the administration’s focus on continuity by shifting to other legal authorities and investigations, ensuring the core approach remains unchanged.
Greer mentioned that while the new tools may lack the flexibility of previous authorities, they provide durable options to implement the existing policy. He explained that the initial use of emergency statutes was due to the necessity for swift action, with plans now in place to rebuild the tariff framework using statutes like Section 301 and Section 232.
The Trade Representative highlighted ongoing investigations and measures, including Section 301 investigations on Brazil and China. Greer also addressed concerns related to national security, broadening the definition to include aspects like manufacturing that contribute to essential supply chains for sectors such as healthcare and defense.
Greer confirmed that existing tariffs would continue, with a focus on addressing unfair trading practices and industrial excess capacity in certain countries. He underscored the administration’s commitment to ensuring trade agreements are upheld, particularly with regards to purchases of American products and rare earth minerals.
