Taco trade? US leader challenges claim that ‘Trump always chickens out’ in talks
President touts tariff successes as Wall Street acronym for a way to profit from his fitful negotiating style makes the rounds
Trump, who was evidently not aware of the term when asked about it in the Oval Office by a reporter, responded with equal parts sarcasm and indignation.
The Taco trade refers to an investment strategy that benefits from the rise in share prices after the US president relents.
“Oh, isn’t that nice. I’ve never heard that,” he said, referring to the term first coined by a Financial Times columnist. “You mean because I reduced China from the 145 per cent that I said, down to 100, and then down to another number, and I said you have to open up your whole country?”
Trump then asked rhetorically whether it would be better if he instead maintained tariff levels “at a ridiculous high” like 145 per cent tariff imposed on China.