As during his first term, President Trump is actively posting on social media, leaving observers scrambling to decipher exactly what position on tariffs they will encounter once he returns to office. \u00a0President Trump this week on social media bashed a report in the Washington Post<\/em> that his aides are exploring tariff policies that would apply to all countries, but might not cover all products. \u00a0It is unclear how this most recent post will match with prior statements from the president elect that tariffs will be based on reciprocity. China is preparing to retaliate against any tariff actions, launching an investigation that could lead to tariffs on U.S. beef.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a January 6 post to Truth Social, President Trump took issue with a story in the Washington Post<\/em> that tariffs would be applied to \u201ccritical\u201d imports related to national defense, energy and other key stories. \u201cThe story in the Washington Post, quoting so-called anonymous sources, which don’t exist, incorrectly states that my tariff policy will be pared back,\u201d Trump wrote. \u201cThat is wrong. The Washington Post knows it’s wrong. It’s just another example of Fake News.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The president-elect’s most recent comments had described a more transactional approach. On December 16, the president-elect appeared with his Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, who will lead trade policy implementation. \u201cWe’re going to make great deals, and we have all the cards,\u201d President-elect Trump said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to be treating countries very fairly. If India imposes a 100 percent tariff on U.S. bicycles, then the United States will impose the same duty on their bikes.\u201d Trump said. If \u201cthey tax us, we tax them,\u201d Trump said. Commerce Secretary-nominee Lutnick reiterated at the event that \u201creciprocity\u201d would be a key part of the strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n