Raimondo Says Trump’s Tariffs Hard to Remove for Next President

Former US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said President Donald Trump’s tariffs are likely to outlive his administration, sustained by political fears that removing protectionist barriers will alienate workers who fear losing their jobs to off-shoring and AI.

Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore, Raimondo argued that the political cost of unwinding tariffs is too high for any future administration, regardless of party.

“Tariffs, once they’re put on, are hard to take off,” Raimondo said Wednesday. “No one wants to be the American president accused of letting down the American worker. Tariffs protect the American worker. And ...