President Donald Trump gave a muddled answer when he was asked by a reporter Wednesday about when he arrived at the decision to pause the tariffs on most countries for 90 days.
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“For a period of time. I would say this morning. Over the last few days, I’ve been thinking about it,” the president said. He added, “Fairly early this morning.”
Earlier in the day, before announcing the pause, Trump on social media urged people to “BE COOL” and said “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!”
WATCH: ‘This is amateur hour.’ Rep. Horsford blasts U.S. trade rep after Trump tariff pause
After members of his administration gave conflicting answers in recent days about whether the tariff hikes were a negotiating ploy, Trump said Wednesday, “A lot of times it’s not a negotiation until it is.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was in the Oval Office with Trump, said the European Union did not face further retaliatory tariffs like China did because the tariffs that the bloc announced Wednesday do not take effect immediately.
“I’m glad that they held back” Trump said.
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