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IN HIS BROADEST TRADE MOVE YET, President Trump will outline sweeping tariffs during a White House Rose Garden event Wednesday.

Trump met with his trade team Tuesday to hammer out the final details for the announcement, which threatens to ignite a risky global trade war that economists warn would be a major drag on the economy.

The administration is playing its cards close the vest, saying everyone will find out at the same time just how big the president will go.

Longtime U.S. allies in Mexico, Canada and the European Union appear to be primary targets.

But it's unclear if the levies will target individual countries or industries or be broadly implemented with a flat rate on items manufactured outside the U.S.

So far, Trump has promised 25 percent tariffs on all automobiles and parts created outside of the country.

“Too many foreign countries have their markets closed to our exports,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. “This is fundamentally unfair. The lack of reciprocity contributes to our large and persistent annual trade deficit that’s gutted our industries and hollowed out key workforces. Those days of America… being ripped off, are over."

The countries Trump has been threatening are promising to retaliate with tariffs of their own.

“Europe has not started this confrontation,” said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. “We do not necessarily want to retaliate but, if it is necessary, we have a strong plan to retaliate and we will use it."

Leavitt acknowledged there are “legitimate concerns” voiced by some Republicans that the tariffs will raise prices for consumers or drag on their constituents' investment portfolios.

Traditionally, Republicans have opposed tariffs.

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) said Tuesday on CNN “there‘s no question about it, a tariff is a tax,” although he said he’d withhold judgement on Trump’s moves to see how they unfold.

“There’s absolutely going to be short-term pain,” Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) said on CNN’s “The Source.”

Stocks have been mixed this week after a sharp month-long decline.

U.S. manufacturers expressed concern about tariffs in Tuesday’s monthly business survey from the Institute for Supply Management.

DEMOCRATS LOOK TO FIGHT BACK

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) hopes to force a vote on a resolution that would nullify the emergency declaration Trump used to slap tariffs on Canada.

That resolution could pass the Senate if it attracts a few Republicans, but it would almost certainly die in the House.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is urging Republicans to defeat the resolution, arguing the tariffs are necessary to stop the flow of fentanyl coming into the country across the northern border.

Trump also made that case on Truth Social.

“By their weakness, the Democrats have allowed Fentanyl to get out of hand,” he said. “The Republicans and I have reversed that course, strongly and quickly. Major additional progress is being made. Don’t let the Democrats have a Victory.”

On the southern border, The Associated........

© The Hill