Watch CNBC's full interview with White House senior trade counselor Peter Navarro
CNBC Television·2025-12-23 13:23

Tariffs and Trade Policy - The administration believes tariffs are not a tax on U S companies but a form of leverage against foreign countries that depend on the U S market [7][8][24] - The administration argues that countries with trade deficits with the U S depend on the U S economy and therefore bear the cost of tariffs by reducing prices [9][25] - The administration asserts that tariffs are a tool to rebalance global trade and bring back manufacturing and supply chains to the U S [19][5][14] - The administration views tariffs as a "beautiful thing" and a "dial for leverage" to negotiate trade deals and address non-tariff barriers [18][20][21] - The administration claims that tariffs have not caused inflation and are bringing investment into the U S [11][26] Manufacturing and Supply Chains - The administration acknowledges that bringing back manufacturing and supply chains takes time, similar to the time it took for China to build its manufacturing base [4][13][14] - The administration aims to bring back both factories and supply chains to the U S, emphasizing the national security aspects of domestic production [5][14] - The administration suggests that construction jobs will come first, followed by manufacturing jobs, as investment increases [6] Economic Outlook - The speaker expressed optimism about the economy, predicting the Dow Jones Industrial Average would reach 50,000 [16] - The administration is focusing on reducing inflation by addressing key areas such as housing, healthcare, and food [17] - The administration anticipates a great year in 2026, with tariffs playing a significant role in bringing investment [17][18]