Sunday, as reporters questioned President Biden why he allowed former President Donald Trump’s tariffs on aluminum and steel to remain in place, he grew defiant.
“When you’re having these conversations with European allies who are very concerned about these sanctions, how do you justify that?” one reporter asked Biden.
Biden spoke about the tariffs during a press conference on Sunday after a reporter challenged the president’s repeated assertion that “America is back” to cooperate with Europe.
“A hundred and twenty days,” Biden replied. “Give me a break. Need time.”
(Biden was inaugurated on January 20, 2020, 145 days ago)
He exited the stage without speaking further or adding an additional positive note to the conclusion of his G7 meetings.
The European Union (E.U.) and other countries were frustrated by Trump enacting a 25 percent tariff on steel and a ten percent tariff on aluminum imports in 2018.
The steel industry in the United States has cited the positive effect of Trump’s tariffs on the industry.
According to the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, the tariffs have led to positive developments for the aluminum industry, citing a 37.6 percent increase in primary aluminum smelting.