Advisors to President-elect Donald Trump are exploring a tariff strategy that would apply to all countries but focus on particular critical imports, as reported by the Washington Post, citing anonymous sources involved in the discussions.

If implemented, this strategy would mark a significant shift from the broad tariffs of 10% to 20% that Trump proposed during his campaign. Economists caution that such a decision could lead to higher prices for consumers and disrupt global trade patterns.

While the specific sectors or products targeted have yet to be determined, they are expected to align with those that Trump seeks to revitalize within the United States, according to the report.

Potential focus areas for Trump may include the defense industrial supply chain—potentially imposing tariffs on steel, iron, aluminum, and copper—as well as essential medical supplies like syringes, needles, vials, and pharmaceutical components. The Post also indicated that Trump might target tariffs on energy materials, including batteries, rare earth minerals, and solar panels, based on information from two of their sources.

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