Tariff Hike, Government Readiness, and Stake in Nvidia: Key Updates from USTR's Greer

Image Source: TradeWinds

The U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer shared critical insights recently on the evolving U.S. trade and economic policies under President Donald Trump’s administration. The updates cover the August 1 tariff structure, government functioning amid a potential shutdown, and speculative commentary on government stakes in tech companies.

Key Highlights on Tariff Structure:

The tariff rates announced on August 1, 2025, represent the framework of President Trump's ongoing and future tariff regime.
These tariffs, imposed reciprocally on several countries, reflect an assertive trade stance designed to protect U.S. industries and promote domestic employment.
Greer emphasized that these rates are largely fixed, signaling minimal room for negotiation, underscoring that this tariff structure embodies the administration’s long-term trade strategy.
Examples include steep tariffs on Brazil (increased to 50%) and Canada (raised to 35%), justified by trade imbalances or national issues such as the fentanyl crisis.

Government Shutdown Preparedness:

Despite looming concerns over a government shutdown due to congressional funding impasse effective October 1, 2025, Greer assured that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) would remain almost fully operational.
This readiness aims to sustain trade negotiations and enforcement activities uninterrupted during the shutdown period, minimizing disruption to U.S. trade policies and international economic relations.

Trump Administration’s Stake in Nvidia:

On inquiries about whether the Trump administration has considered taking an ownership stake in Nvidia, Greer stated President Trump’s enthusiasm for having stakes in well-performing companies.
This echoes broader government involvement in the tech industry, similar to the administration's prior acquisition of a 10% stake in Intel to bolster domestic semiconductor leadership.
Such strategic investments are part of Trump's economic policy to secure U.S. technology prowess and ensure the government gains equity returns on its substantial grants and subsidies to key industries.

These insights together highlight a proactive trade policy stance paired with strategic economic investments under President Trump's leadership. The USTR’s continued operation amid government funding challenges signals the high priority given to maintaining the U.S.’s competitive trade posture in a complex global environment.

Source: Reuters, The Economic Times, CNBC, Capacitymedia,

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