White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed concerns about the impact of Trump’s sweeping tariffs on low-income countries with high poverty rates, such as Madagascar.

“The reciprocal tariff rates were implemented by countries were focused on the monetary tariff those countries imposed on the United States, and the non-monetary barriers, making it harder for America to export to these countries,” Leavitt explained.

But in reality:

Madagascar, which has a trade surplus with the United States, is now facing a hefty 47% tariff on all its exports to the US, including vanilla. Despite Madagascar’s minimal dependence on U.S. exports, the steep tariff essentially aims to curb American consumption of over a thousand tons of vanilla annually.

According to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who expressed his views on CNBC, Madagascar was accused of “picking on us.”

Karoline Leavitt gives baffling response when asked about massive tariff on Madagascar

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about the 47% tariff placed on Madagascar, which is a significant exporter of vanilla, but her response has left many confused

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/karoline-leavitt-gives-baffling-response-when-asked-about-massive-tariff-on-madagascar/ar-AA1CxAhr