US wants to make tanks, not T-shirts: Donald Trump on tariffs
US President Donald Trump defended his hardline tariff strategy on Sunday, emphasising that his goal is to bolster American production of military and high-tech goods, not revive the country's textile industry.
"We're not looking to make sneakers and T-shirts," Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One in New Jersey. "We want to make military equipment. We want to make big things. We want to make, do the AI thing."
The comments came in support of treasury secretary Scott Bessent's April 29 remarks, in which he downplayed the need for a "booming textile industry." That sentiment was swiftly criticised by the National Council of Textile Organisations, but Trump doubled down, saying his focus is on manufacturing critical products such as computer chips, tanks, and ships.
"I'm not looking to make socks," Trump added. "We can do that very well in other locations."
However, Trump's prioritisation of military and technological goods has drawn pushback from the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), which argues that further tariffs would damage the already strained US apparel industry.
"With 97% of the clothes and shoes we wear being imported, and with clothes and shoes already the most highly tariffed industry in the US, we need to focus on common sense solutions,' AAFA president Steve Lamar said in a statement.
"More tariffs will only mean higher input costs for US manufacturers and higher prices that will hurt lower income consumers."
Trump's remarks come as he revives aggressive trade rhetoric, calling on Friday for a 50% tariff on European Union goods starting June 1. He also floated a potential 25% levy on all imported iPhones sold in the US, a move that could have sweeping implications for tech giant Apple and American consumers.
However, on Sunday, Trump extended the EU tariff deadline to July 9, citing a desire to allow for more negotiations with the 27-nation bloc.
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