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Trump said he was not interested in moving textile manufacturing back to the United States, outlining his administration’s focus on producing military equipment and computers.
US President Donald Trump (File Photo)
US President Donald Trump came out in defence of his hardline tariff strategy, saying his goal was to boost the production of American products of military equipment, computers and artificial intelligence instead of sneakers and t-shirts.
“We’re not looking to make sneakers and t-shirts. We want to make military equipment. We want to make big things. We want to do the AI thing with the computers and the many, many, many, many elements,” he said.
Trump said he was not interested in moving textile manufacturing back to the United States. “I’m looking to not make socks. We can do that very well at other locations. We are looking to do chips and computers and lots of other things. And tanks. And chips, meaning ships,” he added.
Trump had earlier supported the remarks from his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on April 29, who said the US does not necessarily need a “booming textile industry”. Bessent’s remarks triggered an uproar from the National Council of Textile Organisations.
In response to Trump’s latest remarks, the American Apparel and Footwear Association said his steep tariffs were not good for the industry. “With 97% of the clothes and shoes we wear being imported, and with clothes and shoes already the most highly tariffed industry in the US, we need to focus on common sense solutions that can move the needle,” said AAPA President Steve Lamar.
Trump earlier revived his aggressive trade rhetoric, calling for a 50% tariff on goods from European Union from June 1 and a potential 25% levy on all imported iPhones sold in the US. However, he extended the EU tariff deadline to July 9 after the bloc said it needed more time “to reach a good deal”.
“She (European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen) just called me, as you know. And she asked for an extension on the June 1st date. And she said she wants to get down to serious negotiation because I’ve told you specifically, and I told anybody that would listen, they have to do that. And we had a very nice call, and I agreed to move it,” he told reporters.
During his second term, Trump imposed sweeping reciprocal tariffs on rivals and allies – including China, the European Union, Canada, and Mexico – which have significantly disrupted global trade dynamics. He later agreed to a 90-day pause, reducing them to a baseline 10% rate.
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
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