Trade wars “are fought every single day,” and the U.S. has been engaged in one “for quite a little while,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in comments that diverge from President Donald Trump.
“The difference is the U.S. troops are now coming to the rampart,” Ross told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Ross’s comments about the Trump administration’s move Tuesday to slap new tariffs on solar panel and washing machine imports conflict with Trump’s own statements.
“There won’t be a trade war,” the president told reporters at the White House Tuesday after signing the new orders imposing the tariffs.
The rhetorical split follows reports that Ross has fallen out of favor with Trump. The president is said to have grown frustrated with Ross last year over the pace of trade negotiations and action against China and was upset that his Commerce secretary had not done more to take on Beijing, according to a White House official.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said at a press briefing on Monday in Washington that Trump “loves Wilbur” and has full confidence in him.
