On Tuesday, the Trump administration extended the tariff delay on Chinese goods by 90 days. At the same time, it imposed aluminum tariffs on more than 400 products, ranging from wind turbines to construction equipment. These decisions increased concerns among trade groups such as the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), which stated that tariffs are delaying growth and disrupting operations. 

U.S. Commerce Secretary Invests in Bitcoin Funds 

According to SEC filings cited by Sludge, Lutnick’s firm Cantor Fitzgerald invested $120.7 million in the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FTBC). He also allocated $116.8 million to Robinhood shares. In addition, Cantor took positions in Tesla, AMD, and Alibaba. Analysts say these picks include investments both resilient to trade policies and potentially benefiting from tariffs. 

On July 8, Lutnick obtained a waiver allowing him exemption from conflicts of interest. This waiver enabled him to participate in decisions directly affecting Cantor Fitzgerald. Financial policy expert Bartlett Naylor described the case as a striking example of conflict of interest. 

Conflict of Interest Debates in the Trump Administration 

Similar cases emerged among Trump’s close circle. Crypto and AI advisor David Sacks sold a $200 million crypto investment at the start of Trump’s second term but soon received a waiver similar to Lutnick’s. His venture capital firm, Craft Ventures, invested $22 million in U.S.-based AI company Vultron on July 11. This investment accelerated the firm’s growth as it pursued federal contracts. 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meanwhile, claimed tariffs would bring $300 billion to the budget. However, economists disagreed, citing supply chain uncertainty. A Yale University report stated tariffs would raise prices by 1.8% in the short term, costing households $2,400 annually. 

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