Is Trump's team's tariff policy contradictory? Bessent's latest statement sends these signals

[Crypto World] U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen just stepped out of the Supreme Court debate on the tariffs case and publicly expressed confidence about winning. But here’s where it gets interesting — Trump and his legal team seem to be playing two different acts regarding tariffs.

On Wednesday, Trump emphasized that tariffs are an important revenue source for the federal government. Yet, his lawyers then told the court that tariffs are not primarily about increasing revenue. This contradiction is significant; at the legal level, this distinction could determine the outcome of the case.

Yellen explained that tariffs are essentially a firewall to protect American manufacturing. Her logic is that once U.S. industries are revitalized, demand for imports will naturally decrease, and tariff revenues will decline accordingly. She said the goal is to find that “balance point.”

This explanation sounds like a long-term policy plan, but how the market interprets it is another story. The longer the trade war drags on, the more uncertain global capital flows become, which can significantly impact risk assets.