Jimmy Kimmel has detailed a potential flaw in Donald Trump’s plan to impose hefty tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, and an additional levy on Chinese goods and services.
The president-elect announced that he plans to introduce a 25 percent tariff on “all products” entering the US from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10 percent tariff on China, prompting fears he has set the stage for a bitter global trade war ahead of his inauguration on January 20, 2025.
The three countries account for about 40 percent of goods brought into the US, the world’s largest importer, each year.
But the Jimmel Kimmel Live host noted a possible problem with Trump’s “terrible idea”: that some of the president-elect’s very own merchandise was made in the countries in question.
“If you want to purchase a tie from the Donald J Trump collection, you better get it immediately or it’s going to cost an extra 10 percent,” Kimmel joked.
An investigation by the Associated Press last month found that Trump’s “God Bless the USA” Bibles were printed in China – the world’s leading producer of the book – for an estimated $3 or less, before being sold for a minimum of $59.99.
While Trump’s red “Make America Great Again” caps are labeled as “made in America” on his online store, the origins of many other products are unclear.
Chinese manufacturers are known to have quickly capitalized on key moments during Trump’s campaign with a slew of unofficial, knock-off merchandise – including printing T-shirts of a bloodied Trump following the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July, according to the South China Morning Post.
Such merchandise was widely sported by Trump fans at his MAGA rallies.
The late-night host also pointed out other issues with Trump’s plan, pointing out that – contrary to the president-elect’s claims – tariffs will actually hurt the American consumer and not the country of origin.
“The problem is, China and Canada and Mexico don’t actually pay the tariffs,” Kimmel continued. “The American company that imports their goods pays the tariff, which they of course pass down to us.”
Now, the Millennial breakfast of choice could be subject to price increases, he said.
“And then we have $40 avocados as a result. This could send inflation through the roof,” he said.
“Almost everyone who knows anything about economics believes these tariffs to be a terrible idea. Some say this is the dumbest thing he’s come up with since Don Jr.”
Tariffs are paid to the federal government by the retailer or manufacturer importing the goods, not the country of origin. So, American companies will likely pass the higher costs from Trump’s tariffs onto consumers by raising retail prices, ultimately hitting American wallets.
Kimmel added: “Mexico makes all kinds of things. They make cars, they make trucks, they make instruments, they make tickets, they make the best damn late-night sidekicks in the world.
“And poor Canada is like, ‘What did we do? I mean, be honest, is this because of Drake?’”
