Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) who oversees U.S. trade policy, called the retaliatory tariff measures pursued since taking office a "successful outcome" and made clear he intends to maintain a hard line.
Citing the revival of the U.S. steel and aluminum industries in particular, he stressed that tariff barriers have brought tangible benefits to the U.S. economy. At the same time, he hinted at the possibility of flexible implementation to ease the excessive administrative burden corporations shoulder during tariff wars. The move is seen as a strategy to use protectionism not as a mere slogan but as a practical tool to restore manufacturing.
In a CNBC interview on the 17th, Greer said the tariff policy implemented by President Trump has effectively rebuilt the U.S. metals industry. He presented as evidence figures showing that in 2025 U.S. steel shipments increased by about 300 million metric tons (MMT) from the previous year, surpassing Japan's output. He went on to argue, "The current situation, in which new steel production lines are starting up and plans to build aluminum smelters are being announced one after another, proves the policy is right." It is the view that America's once-declining manufacturing sector is regaining vitality under the protective shield of tariffs.
However, he left room to adjust for side effects arising during implementation. Greer acknowledged that, beyond the tariffs on steel and aluminum themselves, the method of calculating tariffs on downstream products that use them as inputs—such as washers and refrigerators—is overly complex. It signals he will not leave corporations hiring extra staff and focusing on administrative work for tariff compliance at the expense of core management activities. He said the compliance approach needs to be rationally refined so businesspeople do not get bogged down in counting numbers to the last detail.
According to Greer, retaliatory tariffs also served as powerful leverage to bring counterparts to the negotiating table. He cited as a signature win the recent case in which India agreed to scrap its 13.5% tariff on U.S.-made manufactured goods, lowering it to 0%. He said a mutual trade agreement with Taiwan and ongoing talks with Bangladesh and Guatemala were likewise made possible by the pressure tool of tariffs. It suggests that a pragmatic transaction has hit its stride—granting market access to trading partners in exchange for the terms the United States seeks.
As for concerns within the United States about inflationary pressure, the response has been to set detailed exemptions. Greer said agricultural items such as coffee, cocoa and bananas, which the United States does not produce and therefore cannot supply domestically, have already been exempted from tariffs or are under review for exemption. The message is that tariff policy is not indiscriminate wall-building but is carefully designed to protect domestic industry and stabilize consumer prices at the same time. It is a dual strategy to minimize the trade war's impact on everyday life while securing manufacturing dominance.
Greer also vowed to break through a legal reef: judicial uncertainty surrounding retaliatory tariffs. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled on the 20th to rule on the legality of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the statutory basis for imposing tariffs. Greer said he would respect the court's decision under the separation of powers, but also suggested that a so-called plan B—an alternative if the court applies the brakes—has been prepared. Whatever the legal outcome, it amounts to a strong warning to markets and the international community that the Trump administration's tariff policy stance will be pursued without wavering.