U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick defended the recent tariff policies introduced by President Donald Trump during an interview on Fox News on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. His comments about American beef quickly gained traction online, leading to widespread discussion on social media platforms.

In a segment on “Hannity” titled “The Golden Age of America,” Lutnick addressed host Sean Hannity’s remarks about America’s trade partners “abusing and stealing from us.” When queried about the criticism surrounding Trump’s tariffs, Lutnick attributed it to “soft politicians.”

“I mean, the European Union won’t take chicken from America. They won’t take lobsters from America. They hate our beef — because our beef is beautiful! And theirs is weak,” Lutnick stated during the interview.

The statement comparing American beef to European beef captured attention, with many users on social media highlighting that the European Union enforces stricter regulations on antibiotics and hormones in livestock production.

“Nah — what they hate is that American beef comes marinated in hormones, antibiotics, and chemicals their governments banned decades ago,” a user wrote on X. “This isn’t about nationalism. It’s about trash food policy.”

Despite Lutnick’s assertions regarding beef trade barriers, U.S. beef exports to the European Union under the High Quality Beef quota rose by over 4.4 million pounds in 2022, reaching approximately 29.6 million pounds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

Lutnick also made other contentious claims during his appearance. He mentioned that the U.S. can’t “sell rice to Asia,” a statement that contradicts data from the USDA. The Economic Research Service reports that the United States exports 40-45 percent of its annual rice crop, with buyers in Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and parts of Northeast Asia.

Additionally, the Commerce Secretary questioned why Japanese consumers do not purchase more American cars, asking, “Why in the world do we let these people sell their cars?”

President Trump announced the comprehensive tariff policy on April 2, referring to it as “Liberation Day.”

The tariff policy has been met with criticism from both political parties. On Wednesday, several Republican senators joined Senate Democrats in opposing the emergency powers Trump utilized earlier in the year to impose initial tariffs on Canada.

Despite concerns from economists about potential price increases for American consumers, Lutnick remains steadfast in his defense of the policy. During the Hannity segment, he characterized the tariffs as overdue.

“Finally, finally, the man behind the Resolute Desk, the man in the Oval Office, Donald Trump, is finally standing up for our farmers, our ranchers, and our manufacturers, to let the world understand, either they buy our products, or don’t bother coming here,” Lutnick stated.

Negotiations with impacted countries have started, but Lutnick continues to support the tariffs. In another interview, he mentioned that around 50 countries have reached out to the U.S. regarding the tariffs, suggesting that these discussions validate the administration’s stance.

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister reportedly met with U.S. officials to request a delay in tariff implementation, as Vietnam is expected to be heavily affected. However, Lutnick, along with Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro, emphasized that the tariffs will proceed as planned.

Beef production data shows the European Union remains the third-largest beef producer globally after the United States and Brazil, with production at approximately 1.3 billion pounds per month, according to the European Commission’s Agri-food data portal. Other significant beef exporters include India, Australia, and New Zealand.

President Trump made a major shift in trade policy on April 9, lowering tariffs to a flat 10% for most trade partners for 90 days, while raising China’s tariff rate to 145%. White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett stated that 15 countries have proposed trade agreements.

This decision was made in response to significant market volatility and widespread concerns from international trade partners.

In response to the United States increasing tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, China implemented several countermeasures:

• Tariff Increase: China raised tariffs on U.S. imports from 84% to 125% on April 11, 2025.
• Official Statements: Chinese officials criticized the U.S. tariff hikes, with a Finance Ministry spokesperson calling them “a joke” and stating that further increases would be economically meaningless.
• Export Restrictions: China suspended exports of critical rare-earth metals and magnets, which are essential for industries like automotive and defense.
• Trade Diversification: Chinese businesses began seeking alternative markets, such as Europe and Australia, to mitigate the impact of U.S. tariffs.
• Legal Actions: China filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization against the U.S. tariffs.
• Diplomatic Efforts: President Xi Jinping emphasized opposition to unilateral trade measures during diplomatic engagements in Southeast Asia, advocating for multilateral trading systems.

These actions reflect China’s multifaceted approach to countering the U.S. tariff increases, combining economic, legal, and diplomatic strategies.