US President Donald Trump on Monday explained that his voice sounded hoarse because he had been shouting during trade discussions.
“I feel great. I was shouting at people because they were stupid about something having to do with trade and a country, and I straightened it out,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
“But I blew my stack at these people,” he added, without identifying the country involved. He said the dispute stemmed from an attempt to renegotiate terms of a trade deal. “And I wasn’t happy about it,” Trump said.
The comments came days after Trump signed an order on Friday lowering US tariffs on a range of agricultural imports, including beef, bananas, coffee and tomatoes, amid rising pressure from voters facing higher living costs.
These items are now exempt from his “reciprocal” tariffs, introduced earlier this year to counter what the administration considers unfair trade behavior. The exemptions follow a review of the US capacity to produce certain goods domestically.
Other tariffs, however, remain in place. The revised exemptions are retroactive to November 13, according to the White House order.
The administration has intensified its push to persuade Americans of the economy’s underlying strength as cost-of-living concerns dominated this month’s elections for the New York City mayor and the governors of New Jersey and Virginia. Democrats won all three contests after focusing heavily on affordability issues.
The updated exemption list additionally includes produce such as avocados, coconuts and pineapples.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has enacted broad tariffs on US trading partners, prompting economists to warn that such measures could add to inflationary pressures and slow economic growth. While overall consumer inflation has not surged, officials say tariffs have increased prices on specific items and that these effects will continue to work through the economy.
Beef prices have also climbed this year, partly due to a tighter supply of cattle.
Trump’s economic team has acknowledged the financial strain many Americans are feeling, with his top economic adviser noting the erosion of purchasing power in recent years.
*With Agency Inputs
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