In response to President Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement of sweeping new tariffs, Oxfam America President and CEO Abby Maxman said:
“President Trump's reckless use of tariffs has turned an economic tool into a wrecking ball that slams in all directions, harming working-class families in the U.S. and in countries worldwide. As a global organization, we see what’s going on: President Trump is stoking a devastating trade war, and it’s especially cruel that people in poverty in some of the poorest countries will suffer the most.
“Trump’s weaponization of tariffs is effectively an attack on the global working class that would turbocharge inequality. This decision risks pushing up costs for families at home and abroad who already struggle to get by, and spurring economic downturns around the world.
“We should also pay close attention to Trump’s fellow billionaires who stand to benefit from crony tariff deals, since tariffs – and lucrative exceptions to them – have been imposed unilaterally without congressional oversight or approval. Ordinary people are already weathering skyrocketing costs-of-living, and now we’re seeing damaging tariffs and proposed cuts to the safety net. Meanwhile, President Trump peddles the fiction that his chaotic tariffs will cover the cost of his tax breaks for billionaires. Ultimately, Trump’s use of tariffs is part of a harmful economic blueprint that will inflame inequality.”
Oxfam America fights inequality to end poverty and injustice. We offer lifesaving support in times of crisis and advocate for economic justice, gender equality, and climate action. We demand equal rights and equal treatment so that everyone can thrive, not just survive. The future is equal. Join us at oxfamamerica.org.
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