Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphatically rejected the risks of a recession even as markets slide — and said America’s biggest trading partners could easily avoid Trumps

U.S. President Donald Trump maintains tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China as a lever against the fentanyl crisis. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick assures the measures aim to protect American lives and dismisses fears of a recession,

The levies, ordered by President Donald Trump in February, include imports from Canada and Mexico — which are among the top foreign suppliers — and apply to finished metal products, too. US steelmakers have urged Trump to resist exemptions to the tariffs, which risk hitting US companies that use aluminum and steel.

Lutnick's analysis comes weeks after China filed a lawsuit against the U.S. with the World Trade Organization over its 10% tariff. It issued its own 10% tariff.

A self-styled Wall Street tough guy, Lutnik served as head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald before being selected by Trump to take charge of everything from imposing trade restrictions to monitoring the weather.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated that President Donald Trump is expected to delay imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico for all goods and services covered under the USMCA trade