Trump to show off American-made goods amid trade disputes

President Trump will host an event showcasing U.S. products from all 50 states at the White House on Monday. 

The White House hosted a similar “Made in America” exhibition last year, but this year’s event comes amid escalating trade battles with the European Union (EU), Mexico, Canada and China. 

Trump will make remarks at the event, which will feature manufacturers and their products from across the country. Vice President Pence, several Cabinet secretaries and other administration officials will attend the event throughout the day, White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters confirmed to The Hill. 

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“It’s an opportunity to showcase products that are made here in America and invite companies from each state to the White House to display [them],” Walters said. 

Products on display will include wool yarn from Maine, boots from Texas, stoves from Idaho and more.

Trump in recent weeks has slapped billions of dollars in tariffs on countries including historic U.S. allies such as the EU, citing national security and financial incentives. Some manufacturers in the U.S. have anticipated enormous losses due to retaliatory tariffs from those entities that have been targeted. A few have already moved their operations overseas. 

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will meet with Trump this week to discuss trade. Trump last month threatened to impose automobile tariffs on cars from the EU.

The exhibition will include a Ford Motor Company F-150 pickup truck. All major American automakers, including Ford, oppose vehicle and parts tariffs of up to 25 percent, Reuters reported. 

All products on display will contain “negligible foreign content,” according to guidelines for the event. Their final assembling and processing all must have taken place in the U.S.

Trump’s platform has long included increased American manufacturing, but U.S. manufacturers are grappling with the fallout from Trump’s tariffs, including increased layoffs and skyrocketing costs of production.