White House National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow refused to say whether the U.S. would abide by World Trade Organization decisions if other countries bring tariff challenges to the body.
"The president has said this many times. We are bound by the national interest here more than anything else," Kudlow said. "We're always interested in the World Trade Organization. [U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer], in fact, has filed complaints in the WTO with respect to Chinese practices and the practices of other nations, so we're still working through the WTO, but international multilateral organizations are not going to determine American policy. I think the president's made that very clear."
Kudlow's comments come days before a G-7 conference in Quebec, where trade discussions will be a top priority for the White House. Canada and European Union members of the G-7 have pushed back on the administration's steel and aluminum tariffs.
"I regard this as much like a family quarrel," he said when asked about some of the criticisms leveled by other member nations of the group. "I'm always the optimist. I believe it can be worked out. I'm always hopeful on that point."
On the status of negotiations over a new framework for the North American Free Trade Agreement, Kudlow said the lines of communication between the U.S. and its Mexican and Canadian counterparts are still open.
Kudlow also disputed reports that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had recommended extending steel and aluminum tariff exemptions for Canada and also disputed reports that the U.S. and China have reached a deal to lift a ban on business dealings with ZTE. He said no decisions had been reached by both sides.
