Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphatically rejected the risks of a recession even as markets slide — and said America’s biggest trading partners could easily avoid Trump’s twice-delayed tariffs. Lutnick, 63, was asked if he was worried about the US sliding into recession Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” — and gave an unequivocal answer.

U.S. tariffs of 25% on imports of steel and aluminum will take effect as scheduled on Wednesday, Lutnick said.

Washington – President Donald Trump launched a trade war Tuesday against America’s three biggest trading partners, drawing immediate retaliation from Mexico, Canada and China and sending financial markets into a tailspin as the U.S. faced the threat of rekindled inflation and paralyzing uncertainty for business.