Trump Trade Aide Says Tariff Rates May Not Change: 'Pretty Much Set'

Last Updated:August 03, 2025, 22:38 IST

The updated tariffs, which range from 10% to 41%, will affect dozens of US trade partners, including India and the European Union

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. (AP file photo)

New US tariff rates set by US President Donald Trump are unlikely to change before their implementation on 7 August, according to senior trade advisor Jamieson Greer.

Speaking to CBS News on Sunday, Greer said the rates were “pretty much set" and reflected Trump’s broader economic and geopolitical strategy.

“A lot of these are set rates pursuant to deals. Some of these deals are announced, some are not, others depend on the level of the trade deficit or surplus we may have with the country," Greer explained.

“We’re seeing truly the contours of the president’s tariff plan right now with these rates," he added.

The updated tariffs, which range from 10% to 41%, will affect dozens of US trade partners, including India and the European Union. The decision has sparked concern globally, especially as Trump shifted the deadline from 1 August to 7 August to allow for what he called final adjustments.

One of the most targeted countries is Brazil, now facing a 50% tariff on many exports to the US, although products like aircraft and orange juice are exempt. Trump has openly said the move is a response to Brazil’s legal actions against former president Jair Bolsonaro, a close political ally. He labelled the case a “witch hunt".

Greer defended Trump’s use of tariffs for political purposes, saying, “The president has seen in Brazil, like he’s seen in other countries, a misuse of law, a misuse of democracy."

“It is normal to use these tools for geopolitical issues," he noted.

Additionally, White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett also backed the tariff strategy in a separate interview to NBC. While discussions with trade partners are ongoing, he confirmed the majority of rates are “more or less locked in."

When asked if market reactions could prompt Trump to change course, Hassett said, “I would rule it out, because these are the final deals."

Legal challenges to the tariffs are already in progress, and an appeals court has shown scepticism about Trump’s legal authority. The matter may eventually reach the US Supreme Court.

(With inputs from AFP)

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First Published:

August 03, 2025, 22:37 IST

News world Trump Trade Aide Says Tariff Rates May Not Change: 'Pretty Much Set'

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