Reciprocal Tariffs: A Corporate Power Grab Disguised as Trade Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tomorrow, the Trump administration is set to announce a sweeping package of “reciprocal tariffs,” targeting dozens of countries based on a forthcoming report by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, issued the following statement ahead of Trump’s announcement:
“We expect this proposal, which has been explicitly framed as retaliation by the administration, to be a reckless escalation that will undermine U.S. national interests, alienate allies, and deepen economic insecurity for American workers, consumers, and small businesses.
“For decades, corporate-rigged trade deals have offshored jobs, stagnated wages, and put investor profits over public interests, but these tariffs are not about reversing that damage. They’re about weaponizing trade policy to advance the narrow interests of fossil fuel giants, Big Tech companies, and Trump’s billionaire cronies — while distracting from the administration’s utter failure to deliver a coherent, worker-centered trade agenda.
“If Trump cared about protecting workers, he’d pair strategic tariffs with domestic manufacturing investment and encourage other countries to adopt trade policies that help workers and consumers. Instead, he’s using them to rig the system further. And, as before, his administration will likely carve out corrupt exemptions to shield corporate donors from the fallout.
“The Trump administration claims that the United States has been treated unfairly by decades of “free trade” agreements. The reality is that U.S. workers have suffered while U.S. corporations have enjoyed years of record-profits.”