Your Money Minute: More Tariff Roll Backs (01/06/26)

Host: Jessica Ettinger, CNBC
Guests: Eamon Javers, Sarah Eisen, David Faber
Duration: 60 seconds
Main Theme:
This brief episode dives into the recent rollbacks and delays in U.S. tariffs, particularly those imposed by President Trump’s administration, in response to voter concerns over high consumer prices. The episode contextualizes these moves within the larger political landscape, especially as the country heads toward the 2026 midterm elections.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Political Impact of High Prices

• Consumer frustration: Recent elections reflected widespread dissatisfaction over high prices, heavily influencing political outcomes.
• Quote: “Americans voted with their wallets last November, giving Democrats some key wins… as voters screamed about high consumer prices.”
  — Jessica Ettinger [00:04]

Tariff Rollbacks and Delays

• Latest delays:
  • Tariffs set to take effect on New Year’s Day 2026 (on goods like upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities) were postponed by President Trump.
  • Quote: “President Trump spent part of his New Year's Eve delaying tariffs that were set to go into place on New Year's Day on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities.”
    — Eamon Javers [00:26]
• Not the first time:
  • There have been previous rollbacks—tariffs on beef, coffee, and bananas were already removed to address rising commodity prices.
  • Quote: “Trump signed an executive order to roll back tariffs on beef, coffee and bananas in order to blunt those price increases…”
    — Eamon Javers [00:39]

Political Calculations

• Midterm timing: The tariff delays are strategically set to avoid backlash ahead of the November midterms.
• Commentary:
  • “He is punting it till next year, so they're coming. At least that's the message.”
    — Sarah Eisen & David Faber [00:53]
  • “Until he punts it again.”
    — Eamon Javers [00:59]
• Possibility of further delays: There’s skepticism that tariffs will be imposed at all, with the implication that political calculation will continue to drive these decisions.

Ongoing Legal Uncertainty

• The Supreme Court is set to rule on the legality of the tariffs, which adds another layer of uncertainty to their future.
• “President Trump called his tariffs an overwhelming benefit to the US in a recent social media post as the White House waits for a decision from the Supreme Court about whether they're legal.”
  — Jessica Ettinger [01:00]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jessica Ettinger [00:04]:
  “Americans voted with their wallets last November, giving Democrats some key wins around the country as voters screamed about high consumer prices.”
• Eamon Javers [00:26]:
  “President Trump spent part of his New Year's Eve delaying tariffs that were set to go into place on New Year's Day…”
• Eamon Javers [00:39]:
  “Trump signed an executive order to roll back tariffs on beef, coffee and bananas…”
• Sarah Eisen & David Faber [00:53]:
  “He is punting it till next year, so they're coming. At least that's the message.”
• Eamon Javers [00:59]:
  “Until he punts it again.”
• Jessica Ettinger [01:00]:
  “President Trump called his tariffs an overwhelming benefit to the US in a recent social media post as the White House waits for a decision from the Supreme Court about whether they're legal.”

Important Timestamps

• 00:00-00:26: Political backdrop, impact of prices on elections, Democrats’ gains
• 00:26-00:39: Details on tariff delays and specific goods affected
• 00:39-00:53: Previous tariff rollbacks; Democrats’ focus on affordability
• 00:53-01:00: Panel discussion on political timing and skepticism
• 01:00-01:19: Trump’s defense of tariffs, legal uncertainty, episode wrap-up

Takeaway

The episode succinctly explains that high consumer prices, triggered at least in part by tariffs, are now front and center in American politics. In response, the White House is strategically rolling back or delaying tariffs to mitigate backlash ahead of the critical midterm elections, all while legal questions remain unresolved.