Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended President Donald Trump’s tariff policies on Tuesday, stating that they are essential for America—even if they lead to a recession.
In an interview aired by CBS News, reporter Nancy Cordes pressed Lutnick on whether the tariffs would still be justified if they caused an economic downturn.
"These policies are the most important thing America has ever had," Lutnick responded.
When Cordes followed up, asking, "So it is worth it?", Lutnick firmly replied:
"It is worth it."
However, he quickly deflected blame for any potential recession, claiming:
"The only reason there could possibly be a recession is because of the Biden nonsense that we had to live with."
Lutnick, one of Trump’s strongest defenders on trade, has repeatedly downplayed concerns about a possible recession. Over the weekend, he reassured Americans that they should “absolutely not” worry about economic downturns.
In his latest remarks, he argued that the tariffs are part of a structured plan, rather than chaotic policy decisions.
"These policies produce revenues," he said, dismissing criticisms.
Cordes pushed back, asking:
"So when it looks chaotic and unpredictable from the outside, you’re saying there is actually a master plan behind these tariffs?"
Lutnick rejected the notion outright:
"It is not chaotic. And the only one who thinks it’s chaotic is someone who’s being silly."
On Tuesday, Trump threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports, escalating tensions over Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s plan to impose a retaliatory surcharge on electricity affecting three U.S. states.
However, Ford backed down, and Trump reversed course just hours later. Instead, he announced that officials would meet in Washington on Thursday to discuss a renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) before reciprocal tariffs are set to take effect early next month.
The back-and-forth underscores the high-stakes nature of Trump’s trade policies—which, according to Lutnick, are "the most important thing America has ever had."
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