Here’s why Trump thinks tariffs are good for the U.S. and what the experts say [Video]

President-elect Donald Trump, an avowed fan of tariffs, is pledging to enact stiff import duties as soon as he’s inaugurated in January. For Trump, these new levies would both supercharge the trade policies pursued during his first administration and, more broadly, help the U.S. achieve key economic and social goals. 

On his Truth Social site Monday evening, Trump unveiled plans to place a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada on January 20, his inauguration day. The president-elect also said he intends to levy an additional 10% fee on all imports from China. 

Trump’s penchant for protectionist trade policies is a source of concern for many economists and Wall Street analysts, who worry new tariffs and retaliatory measures by U.S. trade partners could slow economic growth, spur inflation and trigger a trade war.

But Trump and his allies, including his choice for Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent,have argued that tariffs deployed during his first term didn’t …