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Bloomberg Talks

Former US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Talks Tariffs and the Market

Mar 27, 2025
Wilbur Ross, former US Commerce Secretary and veteran investor, shares insights on tariffs and their ripple effects on global trade and markets. He discusses the recently introduced auto tariffs, aiming to bolster U.S. manufacturing but warns of potential inflation. The conversation also navigates reciprocal tariffs and their complexities, alongside the impact of non-tariff barriers that challenge American businesses. Ross highlights strategies for reducing the federal workforce to tackle the deficit while balancing political pressures.
11:50

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Wilbur Ross highlights that tariffs aim to boost U.S. manufacturing and potentially finance tax cuts while addressing trade imbalances.
  • The podcast emphasizes that non-tariff barriers can significantly hinder trade, often posing greater challenges than tariffs themselves.

Deep dives

Objectives of Auto Tariffs

The auto tariffs announced by the Trump administration aim to achieve multiple objectives, primarily relocating manufacturing back to the United States and generating additional revenue. By addressing the significant trade imbalance in the auto sector, the tariffs are designed to encourage domestic production, which is expected to counteract some inflationary pressures through changes in currency value. Additionally, if implemented strategically, these tariffs could provide revenue that might help finance future tax cuts, creating a potential win-win scenario for the economy. The effectiveness of the tariffs largely depends on their execution, as complicated structures could undermine the intended goals.

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