Will Trump’s ‘Job-Killing’ Steel Tariffs Push Gary Cohn Out Of The White House?

Gary Cohn. Image by Getty Images

By Avichai Scher March 2, 2018

President Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports puts his top economic adviser, Gary Cohn, who opposed the tariffs, in a difficult position. Cohn is rumored to have been mulling resigning for some time, but stayed to stop Trump from imposing high tariffs.

Politico reports that Cohn had been lobbying Trump for months to stop him from implementing tariffs.

On Thursday, Trump announced plans for a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports.

The move drew howls of outrage from pro-business Republicans, who branded it a “job-killer,” along with consumer advocates and close allies like Canada. It also sparked a fresh nosedive on Wall Street, especially after Treump tweeted that a trade war would be “good.”

After the violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia last summer, Cohn was critical of Trump, and was reported to have considered resigning, but stayed to push through the recent tax reform bill, according to Politico.

The tariff announcement ended weeks of heavy debate over the policy, which pitted Cohn against White House trade advisor who favors the tariffs.

If Cohn departs, it would weaken the moderate influence in the White House, including Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Cohn, a Democrat, has long been a target of Conservative influences in the White House, who reportedly opposed proposals that Cohn become chief of staff.

Contact Avichai Scher at [email protected] or on Twitter, @avi_scher

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