Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, has said he believes the administration uses tariffs “99 percent correctly. Beyond that, he argues that these measures 1) promote fair trade practices, and 2) are legally defensible. Hassett went on to promise that the administration would soon resume its tariff offensive. This is happening despite alarm over this very thing in recent judicial rulings spooking the streets under some public powers.
Hassett’s comments come on the heels of a controversial judicial ruling in America’s ongoing fentanyl epidemic. He blasted the decision and reiterated the administration’s broader dedication to fighting the crisis, which he calls an emergency. “These activist judges are trying to slow down something right in the middle of really important negotiations,” he stated.
Back at the White House, Hassett continued praising the current trade negotiations for their effectiveness. He continued, “This trade negotiation season has been the most, most effective in American people’s favor. Most importantly, he asserted that past deals with foreign governments had led to America’s interests being “bungled.”
In addition to answering lawmakers’ questions about the administration’s approach, the National Economic Council director joined the administration’s pushback against fentanyl today. He was perhaps most unique in realizing that there was no single way to do things. For one, he said, “We can do all of those things with lower numbers, in the hundreds, immediately.” It’s just one way to do it, there are other approaches, but in terms of this idea, it would take about two months to implement these. This announcement further highlights the administration’s commitment to taking bold, executive action to address the fentanyl crisis while negotiations are still underway.
Recall that Hassett described in no uncertain terms that the administration would appeal the recent fentanyl ruling. This action shows how deeply committed they are to further focus the fight against fentanyl. It is completely appalling for anyone to say that the fentanyl crisis is not an emergency. Something has to be done, and he thinks we need to do more aggressive things to combat this urgent crisis.
As the administration continues to find their way through these storms, Hassett insists there’s much to be hopeful about with their trade policies. He is not alone in his belief in the legality of using tariffs to move toward fair trade. Though regularly challenged before hostile judicial decision-makers, he remains undeterred in his faith. “We’re not planning to pursue those right now, because we’re very confident that this ruling is incorrect,” he said.