Harris calls Trump’s tariff proposals a “sales tax for the American people”

WASHINGTON – Vice President Kamala Harris called former President Donald Trump’s tariff proposals “a sales tax on the American people” in an interview with MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle.

President Joe Biden also supports certain tariffs and has done little to roll back those imposed by Trump during his presidency. However, Harris stressed that tariffs should not be imposed on all imports – contrary to what Trump has said he would do when he returns to the White House.

“You don't just throw around the idea of ​​blanket tariffs, and that's part of the problem with Donald Trump,” Harris said.

“I say this in all sincerity, he's just not very serious about his views on some of these issues,” she continued. “And you have to be serious and have a plan, and a real plan that isn't just a talking point that ends with a shout out at a political rally, but that actually thinks about what the return on the investment is going to be, what the economic impact is going to be on people on a daily basis.”

During the debate earlier this month, Trump said he would impose a 10% tariff on all imported goods and a 60% tariff on goods from China.

“Other countries are finally going to pay us back after 75 years for everything we have done for the world, and the tariffs are going to be significant,” Trump said during the debate.

The questions came during Harris' first one-on-one interview with a national broadcaster since becoming the Democratic nominee, and Trump has criticized her for not giving more one-on-one interviews.

Harris also said in the interview that corporate taxes would need to be raised to fund some of her measures to improve child care and housing.

“We will have to raise corporate taxes,” she said.

“We need to make sure that the biggest corporations and billionaires pay their fair share,” Harris continued. “That's it. It's about paying their fair share.”

Her comments were a response to questions about how she would raise the money to finance her proposals if she failed to raise corporate taxes or if Republicans took control of the Senate.

Harris has proposed expanding the child tax credit, introducing a tax break for homebuilders and subsidizing first-time homebuyers.

The interview took place shortly after Harris' campaign rally in Pittsburgh, where she outlined her economic priorities.