White House’s Hassett Says Foreign Producers Pay Tariffs, Expects Dispute Resolution

White House senior economic adviser Kevin Hassett said current economic data indicate that the 145% U.S. tariff on Chinese imports is being absorbed by foreign manufacturers rather than domestic firms. Speaking in a televised interview, Hassett asserted that the pricing dynamics support the administration’s contention that American consumers are not bearing the bulk of the new levy. Hassett added that “everybody should bank on” the tariff dispute being resolved, signalling confidence that talks with Beijing will move toward an agreement. He also told reporters the administration is compiling a shortlist to replace the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, stressing that any forthcoming revisions to economic data must be accompanied by clear explanations to preserve public trust.