WH Economic Adviser Hassett: Fed will decide interest rates, we respect independence

Eren Sengezer FXStreet

In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Kevin Hassett, Director of the US National Economic Council (NEC), said that they are getting ready to present a plan to US President Donald Trump on "who and when for tariff talks," per Reuters.

Key takeaways

"Trump wants fair and reciprocal trade, will weigh that as he decides whether to accept countries' offers."

"Focused like laser beam on big trading partners that have been giving us trade deficits for years."

"The Fed will decide interest rates, we respect independence."

"We are prioritizing trading partners for talks."

Market reaction

Risk flows continue to dominate the action in financial markets following these comments. At the time of press, the S&P 500 Index was up 3.45% on the day at 5,235 points.

Tariffs FAQs

What are tariffs?

Tariffs are customs duties levied on certain merchandise imports or a category of products. Tariffs are designed to help local producers and manufacturers be more competitive in the market by providing a price advantage over similar goods that can be imported. Tariffs are widely used as tools of protectionism, along with trade barriers and import quotas.

What is the difference between taxes and tariffs?

Although tariffs and taxes both generate government revenue to fund public goods and services, they have several distinctions. Tariffs are prepaid at the port of entry, while taxes are paid at the time of purchase. Taxes are imposed on individual taxpayers and businesses, while tariffs are paid by importers.

Are tariffs good or bad?

There are two schools of thought among economists regarding the usage of tariffs. While some argue that tariffs are necessary to protect domestic industries and address trade imbalances, others see them as a harmful tool that could potentially drive prices higher over the long term and lead to a damaging trade war by encouraging tit-for-tat tariffs.

What is US President Donald Trump’s tariff plan?

During the run-up to the presidential election in November 2024, Donald Trump made it clear that he intends to use tariffs to support the US economy and American producers. In 2024, Mexico, China and Canada accounted for 42% of total US imports. In this period, Mexico stood out as the top exporter with $466.6 billion, according to the US Census Bureau. Hence, Trump wants to focus on these three nations when imposing tariffs. He also plans to use the revenue generated through tariffs to lower personal income taxes.

Author

Eren Sengezer

FXStreet

As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.

GBP/USD slides below 1.3250 after failing to break through 23.6% Fibo

The GBP/USD pair meets with a fresh supply during the Asian session on Wednesday and moves away from a nearly two-week high around the 1.3275 region, touched the previous day. Spot prices currently trade around the 1.3235 zone, down 0.20% for the day, as traders look to speeches from Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh for a fresh impetus.

EUR/USD stays offered, breaks below 1.1400…again

EUR/USD adds to Tuesday’s slight losses and drops below the 1.1400 yardstick in the latter part of Wednesday’s NA session. The pair’s decline comes in response to the persistent recovery in the US Dollar, which seems to have met extra support following the cautious tone from Fed’s Warsh in his comments at the ECB Forum.

Gold recovers but sellers hold the grip

Gold keeps the bullish performance in place on Wednesday, although is now giving away part of its earlier advance past the $4,100 mark per troy ounce. The precious metal’s marked rebound comes despite the US Dollar’s bid bias, higher US Treasury yields across the curve and positive headlines from the Middle East.

A preview of NFP

The number is of much greater importance than usual as the Fed moves away from a forecasting framework and towards a current-data / rebuilding-credibility framework.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP stay under pressure as investors turn more risk-averse

The cryptocurrency market trades under intense headwinds on Wednesday, led by Bitcoin’s (BTC) deepening sell-off below $60,000. The Crypto King hovers above $58,000.

Just like Fed, is BoJ’s independence under threat?

When talking about central bank independence, most of the focus has been on Donald Trump’s pressure on the Federal Reserve. But a similar story, a quieter one for now, seems to be happening on the other side of the Pacific: Japan’s government may be testing the Bank of Japan’s independence.