“I think Americans who are concerned about increased prices should look at what President Trump did in his first term,” Leavitt said. “He effectively implemented tariffs and the average inflation rate during the first Trump administration was 1.9%.”
Economists generally agree that tariffs increase inflation, but they don’t always. The tariffs Trump imposed during his first four years in office did not drastically raise prices. However, Trump’s first-term tariffs were not nearly as sweeping as the plan he is currently proposing.
Trump told reporters Friday he plans to eventually impose additional tariffs on oil, steel, copper, computer chips, and pharmaceuticals. He acknowledged the tariffs imposed Saturday could cause some “temporary short term disruptions,” but that the American people will “understand.”
“You see the power of the tariff,” Trump said. “No one can compete with us because we have by far the biggest piggy bank.”
Tariffs are a tax on the exchange of goods between countries. Importers, primarily American companies in this instance, pay the tax. To cover that cost, these importers often raise prices for their customers gradually over time or all at once. The tariffs Trump plans to impose Saturday cover a wide range of products but may include a few possible exceptions. Here is a look at what goods could be more expensive to buy after the tariffs go into effect:
More:Tariffs, inflation, and retailers: How Trump’s potential tariffs could hit your wallet
What items from Canada could be impacted by Trump’s tariffs?
The following common imports from Canada to the U.S., according to the Bureau of Industry and Security and Trading Economics, could be affected by Trump’s tariffs:
- Wood
- Charcoal
- Aluminum
- Iron and steel appliances
- Cereal, flour, starch and milk products
- Rubbers
- Alcoholic beverages
- Carpets and other textile floor coverings
- Wool, animal hair, horsehair yarn and fabric
- Umbrellas, walking-sticks, seat-sticks, whips
- Cotton
- Photographic or cinematographic goods
- Cork products
- Printed books