Trump: “50% tariffs on foreign companies taking advantage of the U.S.”

[Financial News] Ahead of next month’s midterm elections, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 50% tariffs on foreign companies seeking to take advantage of the United States. He also demanded that Iran, which is at war, reach a deal quickly.
Trump made the claim in an interview with Fox News in the United States on the 25th (local time). He said the U.S. auto industry had been eroded by Japan, South Korea, China and others, claiming, “I’m bringing it all back. They’re coming back because they don’t want to pay 25% tariffs.” Trump added, “To be honest, I kept (the tariffs) low. If they come in and try to take advantage (of the U.S.), I could raise tariffs to as high as 50%.”
Trump did not cite specific examples of foreign companies taking advantage of the United States that day. The remarks are believed to have been intended to manage public sentiment ahead of the midterm elections on the 3rd of next month.
He also brought up Iran in the interview, saying, “It has to make a decision: whether to finish it off—that’s very easy—or reach a deal.” Asked by reporters at the White House that day whether an attack on Iran would soon resume, Trump replied, “I won’t tell you. There will be no attack today.” Trump, who had halted attacks on Iranian territory since early last month, claimed on the 23rd that he could take military action against Iran. He also said trilateral talks among the United States, Ukraine and Russia on ending the war in Ukraine “would be held soon.” He did not specify when.
Meanwhile, after his interview with Fox News that day, Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social, claiming, “Fox News is devoting too much time to the opponents of Republican candidates.” He stressed, “The media are completely obscuring Republican candidates, and Fox News isn’t doing much to help. If this race is really close, that’s the only reason.”
 

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